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FBI employees protest possible clemency for Peltier

Peltier is serving two consecutive life sentences for the murders of two FBI agents in 1975. Barring a presidential pardon, he will be eligible for parole again in 2008

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A group of retired and current FBI agents organized a march outside the White House Friday to urge President Clinton not to grant clemency to Native American activist Leonard Peltier.

Peltier, 56, was convicted of murdering FBI agents Ron Williams and Jack Coler at South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975.

He has served 25 years of a double life sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Peltier was denied parole last spring and is not eligible for another parole hearing until 2008. He made a formal clemency request to President Clinton, who could pardon Peltier or commute his sentence, triggering his immediate release.

VIDEO An FBI agent and Peltier's attorney talk with CNN before the FBI protest against clemency (December 15) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

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FBI Special Agent John Sennett, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said he plans to present a letter to the president signed by about 9,000 current and former law enforcement officers.

"We want to impress upon the president that Leonard Peltier is not at all worthy of that kind of consideration. He is the cold- blooded killer of two FBI agents in their late 20s who were, at the time of their deaths, they were on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation looking for a fugitive and they happened upon Leonard Peltier," Sennett said Friday on CNN's Early Edition.

He said Peltier and his associates fired at least 125 rifle shots at the two agents.

Peltier's attorney, Jennifer Harbury, also was on CNN's Early Edition Friday, and said no one saw Peltier shoot the agents, and that the FBI concealed ballistics evidence that proved the fatal shots did not come from Peltier's rifle.

"Mr. Peltier is way overdue for parole. He's been in prison for 25 years. He received human rights awards for the humanitarian and charitable work he does from behind bars. And he is in failing health. He cannot get parole unless he admits to a crime he did not commit and we feel that it's time for the United States government to take some acts towards reconciliation with Native American people," Harbury said.

A rally was held in Minnesota last Sunday in support of a pardon for Leonard Peltier

FBI Director Louis Freeh wrote a letter to President Clinton December 5 that said commuting the life sentences of Peltier would "signal disrespect" for law enforcement and the public.

When asked about the case in her weekly briefing, Reno would not say if she discussed it with the president. She also said the agents have a right to protest.

"Everybody ought to be able to speak out about something they about deeply in a thoughtful, professional, dignified manner," Reno said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Peltier supporters lobby Clinton for executive clemency
June 31, 2000

The International Office of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
Leonard Peltier - No Parole Peltier Association (NPPA)
NativeNet: Peltier articles from NATIVE-L
Leonard Peltier Support Group

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