The U.S. Parole Commission has denied Leonard Peltier’s bid for parole, marking another setback for the 79-year-old Native American activist who has spent nearly 50 years in prison. Peltier, who has consistently maintained his innocence in the killing of two FBI agents in 1975, had hoped to secure parole based on his age, nonviolent prison record, and declining health. His health issues include diabetes, hypertension, partial blindness from a stroke, and complications from COVID-19.
Peltier’s lawyer, Kevin Sharp, had described the June 10 hearing as “probably his last chance” for parole, given that his last full hearing was 15 years ago. Sharp announced that an interim hearing is scheduled for 2026, with a full hearing set for June 2039, when Peltier would be 94 years old. The commission also recommended that the federal Bureau of Prisons review Peltier’s medical records to determine if he should be transferred to a medical facility.
Sharp plans to appeal the commission’s decision, stating, “Today’s announcement continues the injustice of this long ordeal for Leonard Peltier. This decision is a missed opportunity for the United States to finally recognize the misconduct of the FBI and send a message to Indian Country regarding the impacts of the federal government’s actions and policies of the 1970s.”
Despite support from human rights groups, faith leaders, and members of Congress, Peltier’s requests for parole and presidential clemency have faced significant opposition from law enforcement officials. Peltier is serving two consecutive life sentences at a federal prison in Florida for the fatal shootings of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams. He remains eligible for parole because he was convicted before new sentencing guidelines took effect in November 1987.
FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the Parole Commission’s decision, stating that Peltier “has been afforded his rights and due process time and again, and repeatedly, the weight of the evidence has supported his conviction and his life sentence.” Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, also supported the decision, accusing activists sympathetic to Peltier of attempting to mislead the commission and the public.
However, there has long been scrutiny over how Peltier’s case was investigated and his trial conducted. On June 26, 1975, Coler and Williams were on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to arrest a man on a federal warrant. The agents radioed that they had come under fire in a shootout that lasted 10 minutes, resulting in their deaths. Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and an activist with the American Indian Movement, was identified as the only person on the reservation with a weapon capable of firing the type of bullet that killed the agents.
At trial, two co-defendants were acquitted after claiming self-defense. When Peltier was tried separately in 1977, no witnesses could identify him as the shooter, and a ballistics report indicating the fatal bullets didn’t come from his weapon was withheld from his defense lawyers. Despite these issues, the FBI has maintained that Peltier’s conviction was “rightly and fairly obtained” and has withstood numerous appeals.
Native American rights groups and tribal leaders argue that Peltier’s conviction symbolizes the struggle between Native Americans and the federal government, particularly on Indigenous lands. The events at Pine Ridge have long troubled Indigenous activists, who point out that the killing of a Native American man in the shootout was never formally investigated.
Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective, described the parole denial as a “sad day for Indigenous Peoples and justice everywhere.” He added, “While we are heartbroken by the parole commission’s decision, our work to ensure that Leonard will receive justice and freedom will continue with renewed dedication.”
Peltier’s case has drawn significant attention over the years, with many viewing him as America’s longest-serving political prisoner. His trial was marred by misconduct, including federal prosecutors hiding exculpatory evidence and the FBI coercing witnesses into lying. The government revised its charges against Peltier to aiding and abetting whoever killed the agents, despite lacking evidence that he committed a crime.
The FBI’s opposition to Peltier’s release remains strong, but its reasons are often criticized as outdated and easily disproven. The FBI has not publicly addressed the context of the 1975 shootout, which was part of a covert campaign to suppress the American Indian Movement, a grassroots movement for Indigenous rights.
Peltier’s supporters argue that his prolonged imprisonment is a human rights travesty. Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, called for President Joe Biden to grant Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds. Biden, who has been an ally to Native communities, has the authority to unilaterally release Peltier. However, he has not yet commented on the case.
In a rare interview in 2022, Peltier expressed his desire to spend his remaining years with his family and tribe in North Dakota. His supporters have set up a house for him there, but he currently spends most days confined to a cell in a maximum-security prison in Florida.
Indigenous leaders and human rights advocates continue to call on Biden to release Peltier. The Democratic National Committee and several members of Congress have urged the president to grant clemency. Suzan Harjo, a longtime Indigenous rights advocate, emphasized that Peltier represents more than himself for Indigenous people, symbolizing the broader struggle for justice and treaty rights.
As Peltier’s health continues to decline, the push for his release intensifies. His supporters hope that Biden will recognize the injustice of his prolonged imprisonment and take action to grant him the freedom he has long sought.
Source: NBC News, HuffPost
