Brandon Council: Biden Commutes Death Sentence of SC Murderer

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ToggleBrandon Council: Biden Commutes Death Sentence of SC Murderer; Brandon Council Seeks Compassionate Release Following Commutation of Death Sentence
Florence, S.C., — Brandon Council, whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by President Joe Biden, is now requesting compassionate release, citing psychological harm from prolonged solitary confinement. The motion was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Florence.

Brandon Council was convicted in September 2019 for the 2017 murders of CresCom Bank employees Donna Major, 59, and Kathryn Skeen, 36, during a robbery in Conway, South Carolina. After a three-week trial, he was sentenced to death in October 2019. On Monday, Council was among 37 federal inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life without parole by Biden.
Race: Black
Sex: Male
The Case and Community Impact
Brandon Council entered CresCom Bank on Aug. 21, 2017, intending to rob the establishment and kill its employees. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina (USAO-SC), he shot Major multiple times before fatally shooting Skeen, who was hiding under her desk. Before fleeing, Council stole more than $15,000 in cash, car keys, and bank cards.
Derek Shoemake, a former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, described it as “one of the greatest professional honors” of his career to seek justice for the victims and their families, told Fox News Digital.
“Donna and Katie were amazing women, wonderful mothers, and beacons of light in their community,” Shoemake said. “Today my thoughts and prayers are with their families, and my heart aches for them as they process this news.”
Shoemake also expressed frustration with Biden’s decision, emphasizing that a jury of South Carolinians carefully deliberated and imposed the death sentence.
“It is difficult to see a sentence wiped away…after it was legally imposed,” he said. “It hurts that the victims’ families will celebrate yet another Christmas without their loved ones, while Council celebrates a political victory.”
Compassionate Release Request
In his motion, Council argues for compassionate release, claiming solitary confinement since November 2019 has caused “severe, unnecessary, and unjustifiable psychological harm.” He describes his conditions as tantamount to torture, alleging they are unconstitutional and not mandated by his original death sentence.
“Within the jurisdiction of the United States, it is both illegal and unconstitutional to inflict or subject any person to torture as a punitive consequence for a crime,” the motion states.
Compassionate release is typically granted to inmates who are terminally ill or severely disabled. Council’s motion argues that transferring him to a facility with less harmful conditions has been denied, leaving him in what he claims are psychologically harmful circumstances.
- Isolation: Inmates are confined to their cells for most of the day, only leaving for a few hours each week.
- Limited contact: Inmates have limited contact with family, friends, and lawyers.
- Restrictions: Inmates have restrictions on phone calls, correspondence, and receiving outside information.
- Psychological harm: Some say the conditions cause severe psychological and emotional harm.
Legacy of the Victims
The deaths of Major and Skeen left a lasting impact on their community. Skeen had recently founded the Miles for Miles foundation in honor of a young man killed in 2016, aiming to support troubled teens.
“She was passionate about creating a space for teens to find help and direction,” said Pastor David Lyle. “Her legacy will continue to live on.”
Shoemake emphasized that his focus remains on the victims’ legacy of “love, family, and faith,” and he continues to pray for their families.
Broader Controversy
Biden’s commutation of Council’s sentence has sparked mixed reactions. U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., criticized the decision, calling it a “disgrace to victims’ memories nationwide.”
Not all federal death row inmates were granted clemency. Dylann Roof, the Charleston church shooter; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers remain on death row.
In a statement, Biden condemned the crimes of those affected by his commutations, acknowledging the “unimaginable and irreparable loss” suffered by victims’ families. However, he maintained that he could not allow future administrations to resume federal executions.
This story will be updated as new developments emerge.
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