President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in capital cases occurring in the nation's capital, citing a need to deter crime.

A Beautiful and Gorgeous City Must Be Safe

At the signing ceremony, President Trump stated, Washington is a beautiful and gorgeous city, and crime should not be here at all. He declared that individuals convicted of murder in the district will be subject to the death penalty.

Overriding Local Law

While the Washington D.C. council abolished the death penalty in 1981, federal law allows U.S. attorneys to pursue capital punishment for certain crimes, including some murder charges, at the federal level.

Expanded Application Nationwide

Attorney General Bondi, who attended the signing, indicated that the Justice Department would also advance death penalty prosecutions in other parts of the country, signaling a broader federal push for capital punishment under the current administration.