The hypocrisy of Donald Trump’s death penalty critics

Everyone is entitled to complain about Donald Trump’s behaviour after the presidential election. No one should be surprised. He is acting entirely in character. It was always certain that he would become the worst loser in history. In comparison, Ted Heath, the incredible sulk, seems almost gracious.

But there is one respect in which the President’s detractors, including Joe Biden, may be guilty of hypocrisy: when it comes to the death penalty. In recent weeks Donald Trump has faced much criticism for allowing executions to take place during the presidential transition period. Previous outgoing Presidents had taken the view that if a condemned federal prisoner had exhausted every hope except Presidential clemency, that decision should be left to their successor.

Yet there seems no reason why this view should prevail. A federal prisoner on death row would not only have been tried and convicted, but would have been allowed an almost interminable number of appeals.