Free Republic

The White House said Friday it was “deeply troubled” after Alabama executed a man using nitrogen gas in a first-of-its-kind capital punishment. “The reports of Kenneth Smith and his death last night obviously is very troubling. It is very troubling to us as an administration, it is very troubling to us here at the White House,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “The president has long said and has had deep deep concerns with how the death penalty is implemented and whether it is consistent … with our values,” she added. Smith was put to death Thursday in Alabama night...

Kenneth Eugene Smith has become the first person in history to be executed with nitrogen gas. The convicted killer, 58, was put to death in the William C. Holman facility's execution chamber in Atmore, Alabama. After the reading of his last rights, a tight gas mask was placed over Smith's nose and mouth, before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him. The gas mask remained on his face for 15 minutes to ensure the murderer was dead. Witnesses were led into the viewing room at 6:55pm, and Smith was pronounced dead half an hour later. Despite fears over...