US carries out the 1st federal execution in nearly 2 decades

SFgate ^ | July 14, 2020 | Michael Balsamo

[KingofZion]

he U.S. on Tuesday carried out its first federal execution in almost two decades, killing by lethal injection a man convicted of murdering an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to build a whites-only nation in the Pacific Northwest.

The execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, over the objection of the victims’ relatives and following days of legal wrangling and delays, revived the debate over capital punishment during a time of widespread social unrest.

*** Lee, 47, of Yukon, Oklahoma, professed his innocence just before he was executed at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

“I didn’t do it," Lee said. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m not a murderer.”

His final words were: "You’re killing an innocent man.”

*** Critics argued the Trump administration was creating a manufactured urgency for political gain. ***

But Attorney General William Barr said, "Lee finally faced the justice he deserved. The American people have made the considered choice to permit capital punishment for the most egregious federal crimes, and justice was done today in implementing the sentence for Lee’s horrific offenses.”

The execution of Lee, ***, went off after a series of legal volleys that ended when the Supreme Court stepped in early Tuesday in a 5-4 ruling and allowed it to move forward.

***

Kehoe, of Colville, Washington, recruited Lee in 1995 to join his white supremacist organization, known as the Aryan Peoples’ Republic. Two years later, they were arrested for the killings of gun dealer William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Powell, in Tilly, Arkansas, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock.

At their 1999 trial, prosecutors said Kehoe and Lee stole guns and $50,000 in cash from the Muellers as part of their plan to establish a whites-only nation.

[KingofZion]

Good riddance. This animal should have been sent to hell years ago. Thank G-d for SCOTUS slapping down these Obama judges who are more concerned about the pain and suffering of the perp than the victim.

[BarbM]

Another death. Boy this country keeps adding up bad things that we “celebrate”.

barbaric

[Yulee]

Resumed.

What is the punishment for treason, under federal law?

This should cause some to pause in their tracks.

[Salvavida]

I can’t believe pain and suffering is a legal argument. Execution is always painful. If not physically, then mentally.

[Cobra64]

Yup. Wanna stop crime? Law enforcement motto should be, “Actions Have Consequences.” Medieval Justice was effective then, and should be put in place now.

[Gay State Conservative]

The Texas Department of Justice maintains a website for their "death row" which has an amazing amount of info.Among the things you can find on it are the last statements made by people who are minutes away from getting the hot shot.I've read a number of them and I'm surprised how many acknowledge their guilt and ask for the victim's family's forgiveness...and for God's forgiveness.

Of course some say "I didin du nuffin"...but by no means do all of them do so.

Of course this punk showed his utter depravity right until the end.

[bert]

and, appeals must cease

all appeals do is feed worthless defense attorneys

the execution and death should take place within 90 days of the sentence being passed.

[7thson]

Capital punishment throughout the ages has never prevented people from killing other people. What it does do is prevent the murderer from murdering other people. I think the main reason is does not prevent murders is most criminals are too damn stupid to realize the consequences of their actions.

[central_va]

The punishment by death is done for us. The law abiding citizen.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Capital punishment throughout the ages has never prevented people from killing other people. What it does do is prevent the murderer from murdering other people."

More than that, it affirms the value of innocent life. If, as a society, we structure punishments to fit the crime, anything less than the ultimate punishment expresses a devaluation of the victim's life.

[Gay State Conservative]

Years ago Time Magazine (back when they were important) started a campaign claiming that this filthy punk was about to be executed despite being innocent.he was convicted of having raped and murdered his sister-in-law (who,IIRC,was only 17).

Well,he got the hot shot...or the 10,000 volts.

Years later a preacher who was convinced of his innocence arranged for some new DNA evidence to be analyzed,convinced that he'd be proven correct.

That new DNA showed that the punk was as guilty as sin!

The preacher sure had egg on his face.

[BuffaloJack]

They need to line up Nidal Hasan for the dirt nap needle.

[Cobra64]

Yes. And as horrible an execution might be to see, they should be aired to the public. Violent crime would drop significantly. There would be a sign posted at the top of the gallows:

Actions Have Consequences

[Clay Moore]

Hopefully clearing out the que for Clinton, Clapper, Comey, Brennan etc.

[PrairieLady2]

Good. I’m glad for the friends and families of the murdered ones. They can finally put the entire mess behind them. Even though the execution doesn’t bring back the dead, there is a certian amount of relief when justice is served. It’s been a long haul for that family. And yes, it shows value of the victim’s lives including the surviving victims. They’ve been through a lot.

[shotgun]

Trying to setup a white’s only nation? Sounds like what the CHAZ/CHOP folks did. Since they had killings inside their own nation-state neighborhood then are they not considered federal crimes as well?

[farming pharmer]

Nidal Hasan

He deserves no more than a rope and a restless horse.

[kiryandil]

“I didn’t do it," Lee said. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m not a murderer.”

If you didn't do it, you didn't stop it.

Eat Mitt and die, Danny boy.

Oh, and ClownBammyGirl Tanya "Nunchucks" Chutkan can eat Mitt, too.

[ksm1]

I was gonna suggest Gitmo and military tribunals, which is the usual route for foreign enemy combatants

[Oatka]

Another death. Boy this country keeps adding up bad things that we “celebrate”.
barbaric

"Barbaric"? Cry me a river. Retribution is more like it. If there is any "celebration" (your word), it is that Justice FINALLY was served.

This guy murdered three people, including an 8-year-old child. His appeals took longer than she had lived on earth.