After last week’s botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee suspended all executions in the state and ordered an investigation. But Tennessee had already suspended executions in April 2022 over problems of protocol and other issues. In Dec. 2022, Gov. Lee had also requested an independent review called the Stanton Report which found “deep systemic flaws” and called for binding safeguards. It pointed out that the state did not have a dedicated pharmaceutical expert, it lacked rigorous chemical testing, and had no oversight. The governor is insisting on maintaining a system of capital punishment, but with shortcuts and violations of the most minimal safeguards.

In the case of Christa Pike (who is still alive, conscious, asking questions, and reportedly angry), the state of Tennessee attempted to execute her with a large dose of pentobarbital, but one hour later she was still alive, so the state attempted to execute her again with a second large dose. Medical experts speculate that the failure of the execution was caused by the drug missing her vein and entering tissue. Pike’s lawyer, Randy Spivey, who was present in the death chamber, said he had personally counted seven needles stuck in Pike’s left arm alone, “one of which appeared to be bent when it was pulled from her.”