Nancy Mace introduces bill to restore death penalty in DC for ‘most heinous crimes’

Published August 13, 2026 4:41pm ET



The death penalty may fully return to Washington, D.C., if a bill introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Thursday becomes law.

The legislation intends to bring back capital punishment to the federal district for the “most heinous crimes,” according to Mace’s office. The death penalty would apply to first-degree murder, terrorism, murder of a law enforcement officer or public safety employee, first-degree child sexual abuse, and the distribution of deadly drugs resulting in the death of a minor, among other crimes.

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