WASHINGTON — In a significant move just before his departure from office, President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was found guilty in the 1975 murders of two FBI agents.
Peltier faced a denial of parole as recently as July and was not scheduled for another chance at parole until 2026. He was serving a life sentence following the standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. According to Biden’s statement, Peltier will be moved to home confinement.
President Biden has been known for issuing an unprecedented number of individual pardons and commutations. Recently, he announced that he was commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, along with granting a broad pardon to his son Hunter, who faced prosecution for gun and tax-related offenses.
Chauncey Peltier, who was just 10 years old when his father was incarcerated, expressed both shock and joy at the decision. “It means my dad finally gets to go home,” he stated. “This is one of the most significant rights violation cases in history and considers him one of the longest-held political prisoners in the United States. Words cannot express how I feel.”
Peltier’s tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, has made arrangements for his return to the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota, as confirmed by his son.
Emery Nelson, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons, noted that as of Monday, Peltier was still incarcerated at USP Coleman, a high-security facility in Florida.
Deb Haaland, the outgoing Secretary of the Interior and the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position, took to social media to highlight the significance of this commutation, stating it represents a long-awaited measure of justice for many Indigenous people in the United States. “I am thankful that Leonard can now return to his family, and I applaud President Biden for this meaningful action,” she said.
The movement advocating for Peltier’s release closely intersects with the larger Indigenous rights movement, as his name continues to resonate as a symbol of the struggle for justice nearly fifty years later. Peltier played an active role in the American Indian Movement, which has fought against police violence and discrimination targeting Native Americans since the 1960s.
The organization’s prominence surged in 1973 after its members took control of Wounded Knee village on Pine Ridge, culminating in a tense 71-day standoff with federal authorities. On June 26, 1975, FBI agents arrived at Pine Ridge to execute arrest warrants amidst ongoing disputes regarding Native treaty rights and self-determination. A violent confrontation ensued, resulting in the deaths of agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams.
Peltier fled to Canada following the incident but was extradited to the United States where he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. In 1977, he received a life sentence despite defense arguments alleging that evidence against him was falsified.
Biden’s decision to commute Peltier’s sentence follows years of activism and advocacy by Indigenous leaders and other organizations, who argue that he was wrongfully convicted. Amnesty International considers Peltier a political prisoner, with various personalities, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, advocating for his release.
On the other hand, law enforcement officials, former FBI agents, and prosecutors have consistently opposed clemency for Peltier. Previous Democratic presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, denied his requests for clemency, and he faced multiple parole denials in the past.
The No Parole Peltier Association, consisting of former FBI personnel, condemned Biden’s recent action, questioning whether the president fully grasped the grave aspects of the FBI agents’ killings. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray has maintained a staunch opposition to Peltier’s release, describing him as “a remorseless killer” in a letter he shared with Biden earlier this month.
Peltier’s supporters have urged Biden for action due to his age—he is currently 80—and his reported health issues, which include diabetes and cardiac conditions. His attorney Kevin Sharp celebrated the commutation, asserting that it recognizes the injustice in Peltier’s case and signifies that the concerns of Native Americans are being acknowledged. “This marks a step toward reconciliation and healing,” Sharp emphasized.
