Biden commutes life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, 80 | Joe Biden

Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, convicted of the 1975 murder of two FBI agents in South Dakota, moments before handing over power to Donald Trump on Monday.

Peltier, who spent half a century in federal prison, is said to be in poor health and not up for parole until 2026 after being denied release in July last year.

In a White House statement, Biden said he was commuting Peltier’s life sentence so he can serve the remainder of his sentence on home confinement.

“He is now 80 years old, suffers from serious health problems and has spent most of his life (nearly half a century) in prison. This commutation will allow Mr. Peltier to spend his remaining days on home detention but will not pardon him for his underlying crimes,” the statement said.

The commutation order said there was widespread support for the commutation for the Native American activist, convicted of killing two federal agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and escaping from federal prison.

“Tribal nations, Nobel Peace Prize winners, former law enforcement officials (including the former U.S. Attorney whose office oversaw Mr. Peltier’s prosecution and appeal), Dozens of lawmakers and human rights organizations strongly support granting clemency to Mr. Peltier, citing his advanced age, illnesses, close ties and leadership within the Native American community, as well as the considerable time he has already spent in prison,” we can read.

In a statement after Peltier’s commutation was announced, he said: “It’s finally over – I’m going home.” I want to show the world that I am a good person with a good heart. I want to help people, just like my grandmother taught me.

Peltier has maintained his innocence since his arrest in connection with the deaths and has been supported for decades by advocates for his release, such as Coretta Scott King, Nelson Mandela and Pope Francis.

James H Reynolds, the US attorney handling the prosecution and appeal of Peltier’s case, publicly apologized, calling Peltier’s prosecution and incarceration “unjust” and called for his immediate release.

On June 26, 1975, years-long tensions over self-governance of tribal lands erupted in a shootout between the FBI and members of the American Indian Movement (AIM), a tribal liberation group. the era of the Cold War.

Peltier was one of four men charged in the killings of two officers. The all-white jury did not hear about the underlying tensions between the two political factions on the Pine Ridge reservation, and witnesses said FBI agents threatened them and coerced them into testifying.

The prosecution withheld ballistic evidence, including the fact that Peltier’s rifle could not be compared to shell casings in the trunk of the FBI agents’ car.

Peltier was convicted of the murders and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. One of his current lawyers, Kevin Sharp, recently told the Guardian that there had been misconduct in the investigation and misconduct by the prosecution.

Sharp said he was frustrated by “the system that refuses to recognize the government’s role in what happened in June 1975, refuses to recognize the context of what happened, refuses to recognize the violation of rights that occurred.”

Previous attempts to pardon Peltier had failed, including efforts by former President Bill Clinton after protests from FBI agents. Former FBI agent Coleen Rowley said the federal agency was carrying out a “vendetta” against Peltier.

After the order was issued, Nick Tilsen, founder of the NDN Collective, an indigenous-led civil rights group, said: “Leonard Peltier’s freedom today is the result of 50 years of resistance, intergenerational organizing and advocacy. »

Tilsen added: “The release of Leonard Peltier is our release – we will honor him by returning him to his homeland to live out the rest of his days surrounded by his loved ones, healing and reconnecting with his land and culture. »