U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., is calling on the federal government to abolish the federal death penalty with legislation introduced to Congress Thursday.
\Let us step away from the culture of violence and restore fairness and integrity to our criminal justice system,"" Feingold said in a statement. ""As we enter a new millennium, our society is still far from fully just. ... The death penalty is at odds with our best traditions. It is wrong.""
Feingold, who said he wants the federal government to lead the states on the issue, said he believes the death penalty ""demeans"" society.
Last January, Feingold sent a letter to then-President Clinton and then-Attorney General Janet Reno asking them to consider placing a moratorium on federal executions.
