President Biden's decision to commute the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from the families of victims and the prosecutors who fought for justice. The case of Brandon Council, who murdered two South Carolina bank employees in 2017, stands as a stark example of the pain caused by this decision.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake, who prosecuted Council, expressed his anguish over the commutation. He described the victims, Donna Major and Kathryn Skeen, as "amazing women" and "beacons of light" in their community. Shoemake emphasized the meticulous work of the prosecution team to secure a sentence that reflected the horrific nature of Council's crimes. He stated that the commutation feels like a "political victory" for the convicted murderer while the victims' families continue to grieve.

Donna Major and Kathryn Skeen were tragically killed during a bank robbery. (Derek Shoemake)

Council's crime involved a premeditated robbery and brutal murders. He shot Major, a bank teller, multiple times and then proceeded to shoot Skeen, the bank manager, as she hid under her desk. He stole cash, keys, and bank cards before fleeing.

Brandon Council's death sentence was commuted to life in prison. (DeathPenaltyInfo.org)

Shoemake highlighted the difficulty of witnessing a jury's carefully considered sentence overturned by a distant political decision. He expressed his concern for the families who must endure another holiday season without their loved ones while the perpetrators are spared execution. Shoemake's focus remains on honoring the memory of Major and Skeen and supporting their families.

The federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, housed many federal death row inmates. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

In his statement, President Biden acknowledged the heinous nature of the crimes and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. However, he justified the commutations by stating his opposition to the resumption of federal executions.

Only three inmates remain on federal death row: Robert Bowers, Dylann Roof, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from left, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, FBI via AP)

Three inmates remain on federal death row: Robert Bowers, Dylann Roof, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.