WASHINGTON — In a significant move just before his term ended, President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted for the 1975 murders of two FBI agents.
Peltier had recently been denied parole in July and was not eligible for another hearing until 2026. He was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the violent confrontation at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Biden announced that Peltier would transition to home confinement.
During his presidency, Biden granted a historic number of individual pardons and commutations. On the same day he announced Peltier’s commutation, he also revealed plans to commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Additionally, he issued a pardon for his son Hunter, who faced legal issues related to gun and tax offenses.
Leonard Peltier’s son, Chauncey Peltier, expressed overwhelming joy at the news. He stated, “It means my dad finally gets to go home. One of the biggest rights violation cases in history and one of the longest-held political prisoners in the United States. And he gets to go home finally. Man, I can’t explain how I feel.” Chauncey added that the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa has prepared a home for his father in Belcourt, North Dakota.
On the same day, Biden also pardoned Gerald Lundergan, a former Kentucky state legislator convicted of making illegal campaign contributions, and Ernest William Cromartie, a former city council member from Columbia, South Carolina, who was found guilty of tax evasion.
As of Monday, Peltier remained incarcerated at USP Coleman, a high-security federal prison in Florida. Outgoing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve in the Cabinet, remarked on social media that Peltier’s commutation “signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades.” She expressed gratitude for Peltier’s opportunity to return to his family and praised President Biden for understanding the significance of this action for Indigenous communities.
The struggle for Peltier’s freedom is deeply intertwined with Indigenous rights activism, and decades later, his name still symbolizes a critical issue for many. Active in the American Indian Movement (AIM) from the 1960s, Peltier participated in efforts addressing police violence and systemic discrimination against Native communities, culminating in high-profile conflicts, such as the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973. This standoff resulted in significant confrontations and lasting tensions between AIM and federal authorities.
The events of June 26, 1975, marked a violent clash when FBI agents attempted to execute arrest warrants amid turbulent battles for Native treaty rights. During a shootout, agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were fatally shot, while another AIM member, Joseph Stuntz, was also killed. Although two co-defendants were acquitted, Peltier fled to Canada but was later extradited back to the United States and convicted of first-degree murder, receiving a life sentence in 1977, despite claims that the evidence used against him was fabricated.
Biden’s recent decision comes after decades of advocacy for Peltier’s release by Indigenous leaders, human rights groups, and public figures, who argue that his trial was unjust. Amnesty International has classified him as a political prisoner, attracting support from notable figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Coretta Scott King, and various musicians and actors.
Conversely, the law enforcement community, including former FBI agents and their families, has voiced strong opposition to any reduction in Peltier’s sentence. Previous clemency requests made by Peltier to former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were denied, and he faced multiple parole rejections over the years. The No Parole Peltier Association, consisting of former FBI agents, released a statement criticizing Biden’s decision, suggesting that it lacked thorough understanding of the case’s details.
Supporters of Peltier urged Biden to act, noting his age of 80 and serious health issues, including diabetes and heart problems. Concerns were raised that he might not survive long enough to secure another chance at parole or compassionate release.
Kevin Sharp, Peltier’s attorney and a former federal judge, welcomed the commutation, asserting that it highlighted the injustices within Peltier’s case. “It recognizes the injustice of what happened in Mr. Peltier’s case,” Sharp commented. “And it sends a signal to Native Americans in Indian country that their concerns aren’t going to be ignored. It’s a step toward reconciliation and healing.”
