WASHINGTON – Just before leaving office, President Joe Biden commuted the sentence for Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents, to home confinement.
Biden says in a statement the 80-year-old Peltier is suffering from health issues and his commutation will enable him to spend his remaining days at home, but he has not pardoned him.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray has advocated against his release or pardon, calling Peltier a “remorseless killer.”
Peltier, who was born on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota is serving life in prison for killing two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 in South Dakota. FBI Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were shot in the head at close range, the FBI said. Peltier had a federal warrant for the attempted murder of a Milwaukee police officer.
Biden cites tribal nations, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, former law enforcement officials (including the U.S. Attorney’s Office who saw Peltier’s prosecution and appeal), dozens of lawmakers, and human rights organizations supporting clemency for Peltier because of his age, illness, close ties to leadership in the Native American community and the 50 years he spent in prison as the reason for his commutation.
