Seeking death penalty for DC murder suspects 'deliberative' but up to AG: Pirro
Seeking the death penalty in capital murder cases in Washington, D.C., is a "deliberative" process but is ultimately up to the attorney general, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told ABC News on Tuesday.
"We will absolutely be following the president's directive, and it ultimately is in the hands of the attorney general, who makes that decision," Pirro said when asked about Trump's comments about seeking the death penalty in murder cases in the nation's capital. "When the president came in, the attorney general indicated that we would be seeking the death penalty in appropriate cases."
The U.S. Attorney's Office is beginning the process of bringing the death penalty against the suspect in the Capital Jewish Museum shooting, who allegedly killed two people because of their race.
Washington, D.C., has not put to death someone since the 1950s, and the residents of D.C. voted against the death penalty in 1992, effectively abolishing it from being used. Pirro was asked about that and said it will ultimately be up to juries to decide whether someone gets put to death.
"I think that what the public is seeing is that Washington has been far too violent, one of the most violent cities, unfortunately, in the country, and it is time that we recognize that law and order is back in D.C., and that we will use all legal sanctions and sentences as called for by law," she said.

-ABC News' Luke Barr





