Gavin Newsom says death penalty is ‘incompatible’ with California values in massive commutation announcement

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will commute the sentences for all California prisoners on death row.

The historic decision will be one of the last of his administration since he has been term-limited out of office.

‘Faithfulness to our values is measured by how we act when it is most difficult to uphold them. For me, this is one of those instances.’

Newsom cited moral reasons for the decision in a lengthy statement Thursday.

“I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us,” Newsom said in the statement.

“This decision is among the most difficult of my career, not because I doubt its necessity for our state but because I know its announcement may