Do You Think Leonard Peltier Should Be Released?

Question

Leonard Peltier is a Native American activist who is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for gunning down two F.B.I. agents on his Indian reservation, The Pine Ridge Reservation, in 1977.

Still today, debate over his guilt/innocence and the fairness of his trial goes on. Some people even say at this point that even though he may be guilty he deserves to be released because of the treatment at his trial and for all of the Native American injustices committed by the white government.

What do you think about this?

Answer 1

He was found guilty of the murder of two federal agents.  All of his appeals have been rejected.

That some people believe he is innocent does not mean that he actually is; some people believe the moon landings were faked.

Until irrefutable evidence comes to light that Leonard Peltier is not guilty, he should do the time that he was sentenced to serve.

Answer 2

Released

Answer 3

Yes.  

Myrtle Poor Bear was intimidated into signing affidavits, which got Peltier extradited from Canada.  She had claimed to be his girlfriend, although they did not even know each other.  It was never proven that Peltier killed the agents.  If he had there was provocation, and If he were guilty, he should have been released by now.  

"At the appellate hearing, the government attorney conceded "We had a murder, we had numerous shooters, we do not know who specifically fired what killing shots...we do not know, quote unquote, who shot the agents."

"Leonard Peltier: In fact, the government has admitted in two courts of law at the Appellate Court level that they don't know who killed the agents. Let me quote them. Prosecutor Lynn Crooks stated, "Your honor, the government does not know who killed our agents nor do we know what participation Peltier may have had in it. We don't know if he was the actual participant or just an aider and abettor."

"Mr. Leonard Peltier is not only eligible for parole, but is long over due. In 1994 the U.S. Parole Commission examined Mr. Peltier's conduct since his imprisonment, factored severity rate of the crime he was convicted of, and determined to be eligible for release after 188 months (16 years) of imprisonment under Parole Commission guidelines. Since then Mr. Peltier has undergone one full parole hearing and three interim parole hearings and has been arbitrarily denied. Mr. Peltier's next full hearing is scheduled for 2008. According to law, the Parole Commission is required to justify their reasons for denying a prisoner parole beyond what the guidelines set forth. However, the commission has failed to articulate any rational reasoning for doing so, and have demonstrated bias and discrimination towards Mr. Peltier."

According to those guidelines, shouldn't he have been released in 1993?

"We would also note that Mr. Peltier has made remarkable contributions to humanitarian and charitable causes during his many years behind bars. He sponsors an annual Christmas drive for clothes and toys for the children of Pine Ridge, helped to establish a Native American Scholarship fund, assisted programs for battered women and substance abuse recovery, collaborated to improve medical care on the reservations, worked to assist other prisoners in developing a prison art program, and adopted children in Guatemala and El Salvador through ChildReach, amongst many other praiseworthy contributions. As a result, he has received recognition and acclaim from many human rights groups, including an award from the Human Rights Commission of Spain."

Answer 4

I am of Cherokee heritage also Scottish, Irish, German just to name a few, born here in the states. How would releasing a possibly guilty person make up for all the Injustices done to the Native American. To release this man would be unjust to his victims and their family's along with everyone else in the prison system who is guilty who we are not releasing,

Vet-USAF

@dded : How is this a military question??