Leonard Peltier, American Indian Activist, Denied Parole And Won't Be Eligible Again Until 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. — American Indian activist Leonard Peltier, imprisoned since 1977 for the deaths of two FBI agents, has been denied parole after authorities decided that releasing him would diminish the seriousness of his crime, a federal prosecutor said Friday.

Peltier, who claims the FBI framed him, will not be eligible for parole again until July 2024, when he will be 79 years old.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley announced the decision of the U.S. Parole Commission.

Peltier is serving two life sentences for the execution-style deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a June 26, 1975, standoff on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was convicted in Fargo, N.D., in 1977.

He has said the FBI framed him, which the agency denies, and unsuccessfully appealed his conviction numerous times. He also was denied parole in 1993.

"Leonard Peltier is an unrepentant, cold-blooded murderer who executed FBI special agents Williams and Coler, and in doing that he tore them from their families and from their communities forever," Wrigley said. "Leonard Peltier is exactly where he belongs – federal prison, serving two life sentences."

An angry defense attorney Eric Seitz declined to comment Friday, saying the Parole Commission had not had the "courtesy" to inform him of the decision. "We've heard nothing," he said.

Parole Commission spokesman Tom Hutchison said the board notifies both sides of a decision, and can't control whether one party makes it public before the other can be notified.

Peltier had a full parole hearing for the first time in 15 years last month at the Lewisburg, Pa., federal prison where he is being held.

The hearing was closed to the public, but Seitz said he focused on factors that would support parole. He said a representative from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa reservation in North Dakota, where Peltier grew up, said the tribe had made arrangements to incorporate Peltier back into society should he be paroled. Seitz also said Peltier has had no documented misconduct in prison in the past 10 years.

Wrigley said Peltier's past criminal conduct while behind bars was a factor in the Parole Commission's decision. In 1979, Peltier escaped for a time in California, and he also has had numerous infractions in prison, some of them drug-related.

Wrigley also said that Peltier "has neither accepted responsibility for the murders nor shown any remorse."

Seitz said earlier that the 64-year-old Peltier is in poor health, with diabetes, high blood pressure, a jaw problem and a urinary system ailment.

Parole was abolished for federal convicts in 1987, but Peltier remains eligible because he was convicted before then.

Comments

[Akat1973]

11:59 AM on 08/25/2009

FRIENDS OF PELTIER

www.FreePeltierNow.org

Call the White House Comment Line:
202-456-1111 / 202-456-1112.
Mr. President, Free Peltier NOW!

[Akat1973]

11:58 AM on 08/25/2009

He also coordinates an annual gift drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation -- a successful program that, in 2006, expanded to include other reservations throughout the country.

Leonard Peltier is widely recognized in the human rights community for his good deeds and in turn has won several human rights awards including the North Star Frederick Douglas Award; Federation of Labour (Ontario, Canada) Humanist of the Year Award; Human Rights Commission of Spain International Human Rights Prize; and 2004 Silver Arrow Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mr. Peltier also has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize six times.

Leonard Peltier is over 60 years old and his health is deteriorating. He has suffered a stroke which left him partially blind in one eye. For many years, Peltier had a seriously debilitating jaw condition which left him unable to chew properly and caused consistent pain and headaches. Today, Mr. Peltier continues to suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and a heart condition. He risks blindness, kidney failure, stroke, and certainly premature death given his diet, living conditions, and health care.

We, the undersigned, say enough is enough, Mr. President. Do the right thing. Grant Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier right away.

Thank you for giving fair consideration to Leonard Peltier.

[Akat1973]

11:56 AM on 08/25/2009

Peltier has served his time. Even by the government's own definition, he has already been imprisoned for a lifetime. In that time, he has missed the simplest things of ordinary life -- having dinner with friends, taking walks in the woods, gardening, children's laughter, dogs barking, the feel of rain on his face, the sound of birds singing... winter and summer and spring and fall. He has missed seeing his children and grandchildren grow up. They suffer, too. Mr. Peltier is now a great-grandfather. How many more generations must suffer this tragedy?

After careful consideration of the facts in Mr. Peltier's case, we have concluded that Leonard Peltier does not represent a risk to the public. First, Mr. Peltier has no prior convictions and has advocated for non-violence throughout his prison term. Furthermore, Mr. Peltier has been a model prisoner. He has received excellent evaluations from his work supervisors on a regular basis. He continues to mentor young Native prisoners, encouraging them to lead clean and sober lives. He has used his time productively, disciplining himself to be a talented painter and an expressive writer. Although Mr. Peltier maintains that he did not kill the agents, he has openly expressed remorse and sadness over their deaths.

Most admirably, Mr. Peltier contributes regular support to those in need. He donates his paintings to charities including battered women's shelters, half way houses, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and Native American scholarship funds.

[Akat1973]

11:54 AM on 08/25/2009

Dear Mr. President,

Leonard Peltier, an innocent man, was convicted for the 1975 shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. prosecutors have repeatedly admitted that they did not and cannot prove Peltier's guilt and the appellate courts have cited numerous instances of investigative and prosecutorial misconduct in this case. As late as November 2003, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that "Much of the government's behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and its prosecution of Mr. Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed."

The courts claim they lack the power to right this wrong. But, as President, you can.
In this case, your concern should be for equal treatment. From the time of Peltier's conviction until the mid-1990s, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the average length of imprisonment served for homicide in the United States ranged from 94 to 99.8 months. Even if you were to take Peltier's two consecutive life sentences into account at the higher end of this range, it is clear that Peltier should have been released a very long time ago. His continued imprisonment after over 30 years appears to be nothing less than revenge for a crime Mr. Peltier did not commit. Personalized and politically motivated vengeance of this kind cannot be tolerated. The concepts of justice and good government require that you act to correct this wrong.

[DrJulienArbor]

08:50 PM on 08/23/2009

A little off topic but..

Can anyone tell me if there's a Volume I of We, The People: Of Earth and Elders? Everywhere I've looked I keep finding Volume II...

http://www.amazon.com/We-People-Earth-Elders-Vol/dp/0952860759

I assume that if there's a Volume II then there would also be a Volume I... and based on the following...

http://www.smokyhilltrail.com/docs/2008conference.pdf

... that's quite a list of endorsements! I also see that the forward was written by none other than Former President Bill Clinton.

And to think... Clinton wrote the forward for Chapman's book... but refused to grant a pardon to Mr. Peltier!

How strange................................................................

[Sifu Dai]

11:53 AM on 08/23/2009

A Presidential pardon of Leonard Peltier would be a just and symbolic gesture. Would judiciously form a new basis for dialog between leaders of sovereign Native American Tribes and US government and commercial leaders. Regarding race relations and the explosive breakdown of such in the US, no single case says more about wounds that have not been healed.

[ElBorba]

01:23 PM on 08/23/2009

Oh brother . . .

[ModernTimes1]

09:55 PM on 08/23/2009

The better place to start would be to honor some of the treaties entered between N. American nations and US. Not pardoning a mur.derer who isn't a man enough to admit his deeds.

[Rjchinook]

12:22 AM on 08/23/2009

"The US Government and the FBI were supporting Dick Wilson and his Goons, who committed more than 60 murders which were uninvestigated."
What's so ironic about all of this is why would anyone question what happened to the Native Americans in the 70's would be any different then all the BS cover ups, firings of Attorney Generals and blatant misuse of power during the Bush years?

[ModernTimes1]

01:01 AM on 08/23/2009

No one is questioning it. We're discussing the actions of one convict.

[ElBorba]

09:21 AM on 08/23/2009

Again - Another attempt to obfuscate . .

We're talking about Peltier here . .

Stop trying to change the subject!!

Throwing arguments against the wall and seeing what might stick is intelluctually dishonest.

[mikesw]

12:02 AM on 08/23/2009

I wonder how much time you get if you are a govenment investigator who rapes and murders a 15-year-old Lakota by shooting her in the head?

What do you think ElBorba? A life sentence maybe?

[mikesw]

12:31 AM on 08/23/2009

Answer: a 10 year voluntary manslaughter conviction

Scroll down to Sandra Wounded Foot
http://minneapolis.fbi.gov/pine_ridge.htm

[ModernTimes1]

01:01 AM on 08/23/2009

Of course you mean the infamous Sandra's Stubbed Toe incident!

[Akat1973]

12:17 PM on 08/25/2009

Thank you for this,it is proof of the injustices that are inflicted onto the Native Americans

[ElBorba]

09:19 AM on 08/23/2009

What does this have to do with Peltier???

[mikesw]

02:29 AM on 08/24/2009

Social and historical context has EVERYTHING to do with Peltier. Read my comments below.

[ModernTimes1]

11:47 PM on 08/22/2009

"Peltier has always admitted he was on the Jumping Bull site on that day but he claims he escaped, along with other Aim activists, before the agents were killed. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3654785.stm

[Akat1973]

12:04 PM on 08/25/2009

modern times thank you that is exactly right!

[erif]

11:26 PM on 08/22/2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZsQzepS5MQ

[Rjchinook]

11:39 PM on 08/22/2009

Thank you for the link & many blessings to Buggin Malone!

[Akat1973]

11:07 PM on 08/22/2009

This is a huge let down for the Native American Community. Peltier was framed;that is the truth.

[ElBorba]

11:13 PM on 08/22/2009

Well then why don't you write up a brief, present it to Peltiers attorneys, and prove it?

Do you have some exonerating evidence which has not been reviewed during the last 22 years?

Otherwise you're simply confusing "facts" for "beliefs" . .

[mikesw]

11:51 PM on 08/22/2009

Unlike you, I make no claim as to whether or not Peltier did what he is in prison for. But what is clear enough, is the FBI's weak case against an activist in a highly politicized environment with terrible precedents.

[Akat1973]

11:47 AM on 08/25/2009

Dear Mr. President,

Leonard Peltier, an innocent man, was convicted for the 1975 shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. prosecutors have repeatedly admitted that they did not and cannot prove Peltier's guilt and the appellate courts have cited numerous instances of investigative and prosecutorial misconduct in this case. As late as November 2003, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that "Much of the government's behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and its prosecution of Mr. Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed."

[ModernTimes1]

11:47 PM on 08/22/2009

You sound like OJ defense, If the feather gear doesn't fit, you must acquit.

[Rjchinook]

12:03 AM on 08/23/2009

OMG NO Comparison!

[ElBorba]

09:24 AM on 08/23/2009

I'm simply pointing out to all the knuckleheads who say "Free Peltier - He's innocent" that the US legal system has compeltley reviewed this case over the last 22 years, and has determined that he is GUILTY.

You can go whaaaaa-whaaaa as much as you want . . It doesn't change facts . .

[ElBorba]

10:50 PM on 08/22/2009

I think this pretty much sums it up . . .

"Peltier has changed his version of the shootings many times and his alibis were repudiated by those most knowledgeable and personally involved in the murders of Agents Coler and Williams; the courts have repeatedly reviewed his appeals and not once has there been any finding of a constitutional violation or reversible error by the government.

Peltier also had ample and capable representation throughout his entire legal proceedings.60

The central element of Peltier's guilt is based on the participants' collective statements and admissions and nothing in the entire history of this case has removed any of them, Peltier especially, from the scene of the brutal murders of two defenseless human beings, FBI Agents, who died in the line of duty.

Notwithstanding that Peltier and many of his supporters have had some success framing his conviction in terms of the historical mistreatment of Native Americans, Peltier is not the cause to atone for any perceived sins of the past. Peltier's factual (legal) and actual (moral) guilt, to any reasonable person reviewing this matter has been established beyond all doubt. "

[ElBorba]

10:58 PM on 08/22/2009

Post # 666 too!!!

LOL

[Nishnabe]

10:05 PM on 08/22/2009

Two related points: For two years on here some of us have argued for more coverage of stories on Huffpo. The Peltier story is the tip of the iceberg. How about the hundreds of Indian activists now disenrolled or prosescuted in tribal courts? How about an examination of the effects of tribes newly awash in cash and their political connections. How about stories why MSM ignores the tribal connections of our first Black/Tribal president? And how tribalism is actually an ecologically based set of social constructs that have existed for thousands of years? And that tribalism is not just a dirty word for insurgents and blood feuds? How did Hillary Clinton lose the nomination? She ignored the caucus states. Caucus: Algonquin for reasoned consensus among those from a geographic area (county or state). Hello? Tribalism. Second point: I pray for Peltier's family but we need to use that interest and enthusiasm for more in-depth stories from Indian Country.

[ModernTimes1]

10:20 PM on 08/22/2009

Good post. Ask owners of this popular re-blog site to give you a regular column.
White, Black and Asian Americans are not interested in Native American issues.
Too embarrassing. Not to mention may impact their own interests.
Much safer to talk about people far, far away. Like Middle East.
Then thousands of American blogger bravely and proudly declare their high morality and how much they value land justice... in other countries...far away.

[Rjchinook]

11:20 PM on 08/22/2009

You can't have one Native American professor be the spoke person for all Native Americans as Al Sharpton can't be the only spoke person for all blacks. Just as blacks have people representing them that never lived in their communities we have Native Americans who claim they know their heritage but never lived on their reservations or are learning from books who they are. Sadly they may have been assimilated at no fault of their own of their ancestors, but they do not represent us or can speak for all of us.

[jhw22]

08:11 PM on 08/22/2009

I think several people on here should read "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" by Peter Matthiessen before claiming superior knowledge of Peltier's role. Many commenters seem so sure of his guilt but don't seem to have learned all the facts.

Jennifer

[mikefina]

08:47 PM on 08/22/2009

Means, motive and opportunity. Check, Check, Check. Weighed, measured, found guilty. 35 years and countless hours spent trying to disprove guilt and verdict, by the best legal minds and civil libertarians on offer, and NOTHING has changed. You can beat the drum for "institutionalized racism, laziness and political tomfolloery" all day--but you haven't PROVEN anything. Next

[jhw22]

09:00 PM on 08/22/2009

Excuse me, where did I say ny of these things: institutionalized racism, laziness and political tomfolloery? Don't put words in my mouth, please.

Jennifer

[ElBorba]

10:34 PM on 08/22/2009

Agree - This is the issue . .

This idea that he has somehow been denied due process is silly . .

His case has been reviewed again and again . .

Why didn't Bill Clinton Pardon him?

Because he's unrepentant and guilty.

[ElBorba]

10:56 PM on 08/22/2009

READ
THE
LEGAL
BRIEFS!!!!

[Lozange]

08:03 PM on 08/22/2009

He should have blown up a plane with 260 people aboard. That guy is out already #*!?#^#!!!