Trump administration carries out rare execution during lame-duck period, with Brandon Bernard given lethal injection

The Trump administration has carried out its ninth federal execution of the year in what has been a first series of executions during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years.

Brandon Bernard, who was a Texas street-gang member involved in the slayings of a religious couple from Iowa more than two decades ago, received a lethal injection of phenobarbital at a prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Four more federal executions are planned in the weeks…