Congresswoman Bush Statement Following Missouri’s Execution of Johnny A. Johnson
Washington, D.C. (August 3, 2023) — Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released the following statement after Johnny A. Johnson was executed by the state of Missouri. Mr. Johnson is the fourth person to be executed by Missouri in 2023.
“On Tuesday, Johnny Johnson was unjustly executed by the state of Missouri despite concerns regarding mental incompetency. Mr. Johnson had a long history of mental illness and spent over 20 years on death row for the horrific and heinous murder of six-year old Casey Williamson. My heart is with Casey’s family, and my thoughts are also with Mr. Johnson’s loved ones.
“At the time of his death, Mr. Johnson’s attorneys alleged that he did not understand the reasons for his execution and believed “Satan was killing him to bring about an end to the world.” What Johnny needed and was constitutionally entitled to was a fair hearing, not state-sanctioned murder. No government should have the power to take a person’s life.
“We need to end the barbaric and cruel use of capital punishment. Mr. Johnson’s death marks the 16th execution in the United States this year and the fourth execution in Missouri. Governor Parson has earned himself the title of ‘Deadly Governor’ by consistently choosing violence over mercy. Like many advocates, lawmakers, and legal experts in Missouri and nationwide, I have continually urged Governor Parson to grant clemency to those on death row because I believe capital punishment is arbitrary, flawed, immoral and often racist. We must stop the cycles of violence that lead to further harm in our society. We must abolish the death penalty once and for all.”
Mr. Johnson was granted a temporary stay of execution by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; however, Missouri appealed this ruling, and the full court overturned the stay of execution. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied issuing a stay of execution, allowing Johnson’s execution to move forward.
Mr. Johnson has suffered from severe mental illness and cognitive impairments his entire life. He has received numerous diagnoses, including schizophrenia, major depression, psychotic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder. He was in the grips of active psychosis when he committed the offense for which he was executed for.
Last Friday, Congresswoman Bush and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) sent a letter to Missouri Governor Mike Parson urging him to halt the execution of Mr. Johnson by granting clemency. Governor Parson denied this request.
Since first coming to Congress, Congresswoman Bush has been a national leader in the push for clemency reform and death penalty abolition. In February 2021, the Congresswoman urged President Biden to use his pardon power to correct legacies of injustice in the clemency process, including by commuting the sentences of every person on federal death row. In December 2021, Congresswoman Bush, alongside Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), introduced the Fair and Independent Experts in Clemency (FIX Clemency) Act, historic legislation that would transform our nation’s broken clemency system and address the growing mass incarceration crisis. She also proudly cosponsored the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act, which would have ended the federal government’s use of the death penalty.
###