Rare Federal Execution Moves Forward Despite Attempts to Stop it

A rare federal execution has gone through despite 11th hour pleas to halt proceedings. Last night the Trump Administration went forward with the lethal injection of 40-year-old Brandon Bernard. He was 18-years-old when he participated in the kidnapping, robbery, and murder of a young Texas couple. Kim Kardashian was among those fighting to have his sentence commuted since many believe racial bias influenced the jury. Despite this and being a model inmate, the Supreme Court rejected any last ditch lawsuits to prolong Bernard’s life. His last words were that of an apology to the victim’s families.
Bernard’s death was unusual for several reasons. He is the youngest person in 70 years to be put to death and the first in 130 years to occur during a presidential lame-duck period. Bernard was the ninth federal execution this year after a 17 year long hiatus. More executions have been carried out this year than the previous 56 years combined, and all during a historic pandemic. More lethal injections are scheduled in the coming weeks, including one set for today.