Bin Laden was shot in the head during a raid on Sunday evening, and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had previously called the photos "gruesome."

Lawmakers had been split on whether to release the photos, debating whether the conclusive evidence of bin Laden's death was worth the risk that it might inflame anti-American sentiment in the Arab world.

Long Island Congressman Peter King, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, argued for release of the photos on Piers Morgan's show last night, saying it was "probably the right thing to do," but also said he wouldn't "make a major issue with them on it."

Today, King held true to that, and said he respects the president's decision.

"I understand the president's decision and will not oppose it," King said in a statement. "While I have said that a photo release may be a good way to combat the predictable conspiracy theories about bin Laden's death, this is a decision for the President to make, and I respect his decision."

Here's a clip from his appearance last night: