On December 11th the BBC reported that President Trump would rush through the federal execution of five inmates on death row. These executions are due to take place during the final few weeks of his presidency and before President-elect Biden enters office. And so by the time this article is published all five people will have been put to death.
This move by Mr. Trump surprised some. He is the first outgoing president for 130 years not to pause executions during a time of presidential transition. And according to the BBC report, if all five executions are carried out, Mr. Trump will become “the most prolific execution president in over a century”, approving the execution of 13 human beings on death row since July of this year alone. It is a macabre legacy.