US Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Thursday that the federal government will resume implementing capital punishment after a 16 year hiatus and set execution dates for five convicted murderers.

Acting on President Donald Trump's call for tougher penalties on violent crimes, Barr directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to adopt a new protocol for execution by lethal injection, as 14 states already do, to clear the way to carry out death sentences.

"The Justice Department upholds the rule of law -- and we owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system," Barr said in a statement.

RT ABC: BREAKING: Federal government to resume capital punishment, Attorney General Bill Barr announces. https://t.co/MX5bymjBBB pic.twitter.com/gTCDUZGNlQ
— The Master's Conference™ (@MastersConf) July 25, 2019

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News24.com | JUST IN: Trump govt to resume death penalty\, sets dates for five death-row inmates

JUST IN: Trump govt to resume death penalty, sets dates for five death-row inmates