Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada will step down later this month after the failed execution attempt of death row inmate Christa Pike, Gov. Bill Lee announced Saturday. Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital during Wednesday's procedure and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to several reports.
Strada said leaving was "in the best interest of Tennesseans" as an independent review proceeds. He said he believed the department had followed established protocol, while also calling the review appropriate and necessary. Lee ordered the review to examine what happened during the execution attempt. The New York Post reported that former U.S. attorney Ed Stanton will lead the inquiry into the Department of Correction's conduct and whether protocol was followed.