Leonard Peltier
(KFGO KVRR) – Amnesty International is asking President Biden to pardon Leonard Peltier, the man convicted of killing two FBI agents in a shooting on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Peltier is serving two life sentences at a federal penitentiary in Florida. His 1977 trial was held in Fargo.
“Indigenous elder and activist Leonard Peltier has been incarcerated for nearly 50 years despite serious and ongoing concerns about the fairness of his trial. No one should be imprisoned after a trial riddled with uncertainty about its fairness and keeping him locked behind bars does not serve justice,” according to a letter sent to Biden by Amnesty International.
“As a matter of humanity, mercy, and human rights, you should grant clemency and release Leonard Peltier. This would not only allow Peltier to be home with his family and community for his last years, but it would also help mend the fractured relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government, which could be forever part of your legacy.”
The U.S. Parole Commission recently denied Peltier’s parole request. He won’t be eligible for another hearing until June, 2026.
His attorney, Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge, argued that Peltier was wrongly convicted and said that Peltier’s health was failing.
The FBI has repeatedly disputed Peltier’s claims that he’s innocent.
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