Tennessee’s prison system commissioner is resigning, Governor Bill Lee announced on Saturday, marking the first major personnel change since the failed execution of Christa Pike, which left her unconscious and on a ventilator.
Frank Strada, the commissioner of the Department of Correction, will step down this month, according to Lee. Several Republican officials and other elected leaders had been calling for leadership changes.
This incident marks the second time since May that Tennessee has been unable to carry out an execution, despite the inmate appearing to be moments away from death.
