Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has taken steps to ensure the execution of convicted murderer George John Hanson, who has been incarcerated in a Louisiana federal prison for an unrelated bank robbery. In a move that aligns with President Trump's recent executive order, Drummond has requested Hanson's transfer to Oklahoma state custody. The execution dates back to a 1999 incident where Hanson, alongside an accomplice, kidnapped and murdered 77-year-old Mary Bowles and killed a witness, Jerald Max Thurman. This request comes after the previous administration had denied the transfer, forcing the state to delay the execution initially set for December 15, 2022, as stated by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office.
President Trump, after being sworn in, wasted little time before issuing an executive order on January 20, which demands respect and faithful implementation of capital punishment laws. This directive aims at undercutting any political or judicial roadblocks that prevent carrying out death penalties. As reported by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, Drummond capitalized on this new administrative stance, writing to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons three days later, seeking the prompt relocation of Hanson ahead of a scheduled execution on March 20. In his argument for Hanson's move, Drummond made it clear that the refusal of the previous administration was in itself a form of obstruction, and with Trump's order, the path has presumably been cleared for such transfers.
According to the statement from the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, Drummond has insisted that the Bureau of Prisons comply with Trump's executive order, which he refers to as "righteous." Drummond asserts, "The prior administration's refusal to transfer Inmate Hanson to state custody to finally carry out a decades-old death sentence is the epitome of subverting and obstructing the execution of a capital sentence." He continued, adding, "As a result, I respectfully request that you comply with federal law and President Trump's righteous order by transferring Inmate Hanson to state custody."
Drummond has asked for Hanson to be moved to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center before the next execution. This request is meant to follow the new administration's policies and possibly set a precedent for future cases with federal-state legal issues. The current administration strongly supports capital punishment, which is a shift from the Biden Administration's refusal to approve the transfer. Drummond and others, including the Trump administration, saw Biden's decision as undermining the rule of law.
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