Friendly forums for passionate Dems!
More than 92 million posts since 2001
Home Latest Greatest Videos Forums Hide ads Join up!
Home Latest Greatest
Videos Forums Help
Hide ads Join up!
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Biden commutes life sente...
Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums

newdeal2

(1,272 posts) Mon Jan 20, 2025, 11:52 AM Yesterday

Biden commutes life sentence of Leonard Peltier

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-16/

COMMUTATION

Leonard Peltier
The President is commuting the life sentence imposed on Leonard Peltier so that he serves the remainder of his sentence in home confinement. He is now 80 years old, suffers from severe health ailments, and has spent the majority of his life (nearly half a century) in prison. This commutation will enable Mr. Peltier to spend his remaining days in home confinement but will not pardon him for his underlying crimes.

Mr. Peltier is a Native American activist who is currently serving life in prison for killing two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and escaping from federal prison. Tribal Nations, Nobel Peace laureates, former law enforcement officials (including the former U.S. Attorney whose office oversaw Mr. Peltier’s prosecution and appeal), dozens of lawmakers, and human rights organizations strongly support granting Mr. Peltier clemency, citing his advanced age, illnesses, his close ties to and leadership in the Native American community, and the substantial length of time he has already spent in prison.
55 replies, 6067 views
55 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Biden commutes life sentence of Leonard Peltier (Original Post) newdeal2 Yesterday OP
This one brings tears. GreenWave Yesterday #1
Good. I was hoping that would be done. Ocelot II Yesterday #2
This is very, very good news. Thank you, Joe. Biophilic Yesterday #3
WooHoo! Finally and very much deserved. Wiz Imp Yesterday #4
WAY TO GO JOE! TexasBushwhacker Yesterday #5
Yes!! LuvLoogie Yesterday #6
Excellent! sinkingfeeling Yesterday #7
Right On unweird Yesterday #8
This was the right thing!!! LearnedHand Yesterday #9
Thank you, Mr. President Rastapopoulos Yesterday #10
A big bright spot on a horrid day Bayard Yesterday #11
WHOA did NOT see that coming underpants Yesterday #12
Yes! NameAlreadyTaken Yesterday #13
Justice! CountAllVotes Yesterday #14
Oh my! From the bottom of my heart thank you. cbabe Yesterday #15
So good to see this.. tears of joy. mountain grammy Yesterday #16
Over joyed!!! Finally! 1WorldHope Yesterday #17
Very good wendyb-NC Yesterday #18
For decades I've been calling the WH G_j Yesterday #19
This should be a pardon, but this a good thing. Happy Hoosier Yesterday #20
I had a professor at UMSL who had Leonard stay at his house while he was on trial in St. Louis LT Barclay Yesterday #21
One final act of compassion nolabear Yesterday #22
better than nothing I guess 4catsmom Yesterday #23
Here is an AP link blogslug Yesterday #24
just saw that!!! Evil mofos! LymphocyteLover Yesterday #25
This is a good thing. Joinfortmill Yesterday #26
''Let justice roll down like waters ... '' Donkees Yesterday #27
mlk would approve nt et tu Yesterday #43
I had a feeling that might be one of his last acts out the door. niyad Yesterday #28
Great news! highplainsdem Yesterday #29
Great News, but... PhilG Yesterday #30
Welcome to DU KS Toronado Yesterday #39
Welcome to DU, PhilG! calimary Yesterday #46
Thank You President Biden WiVoter Yesterday #31
My ❤❤❤ soars like an eagle... ultralite001 Yesterday #32
So how long is it going to take to send Leonard home? How long can they niyad Yesterday #33
GOOD NEWS - on otherwise dismal day. Best possible (key word-possible) outcome Kashkakat v.2.0 Yesterday #34
YES! Thank you, President Biden. LoisB Yesterday #35
It's about TIME! brakester Yesterday #36
I am glad Joe did this. nt moniss Yesterday #37
almost called yesterday Kali999 Yesterday #38
K&R spanone Yesterday #40
Finally. This should have happened decades ago. IrishBubbaLiberal Yesterday #41
Wonder how FQX will spin this if they even mention it KS Toronado Yesterday #42
The only good thing about the result of the last election Hassler Yesterday #44
Oh WOW! Talk about "a lovely parting gift"! calimary Yesterday #45
WHAAT !! librechik Yesterday #47
I think I'm going to frame this. soldierant Yesterday #48
Thank you Joe Clouds Passing 21 hrs ago #49
Good news coming on a day I needed to hear good news, I am so happy to read this. ShazamIam 16 hrs ago #50
So glad to read this ribrepin 16 hrs ago #51
"So, it's real? It's real?" Leonard Peltier responds with disbelief in learning he would finally be able to leave prison Pinback 11 hrs ago #52
"Peltier will likely not be able to leave the prison for several more weeks" Polybius 10 hrs ago #53
AP News reports Peltier's release date is tentatively set for Feb. 18. Pinback 7 hrs ago #55
Well, now his words have me teary again. yorkster 9 hrs ago #54

Bayard

(24,151 posts)
11. A big bright spot on a horrid day
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 12:00 PM
Yesterday

I'm just sorry that Leonard has wrongly spent 50 years in prison. He comes out a broken man, but I'm sure he and his family are celebrating. Crying with happiness here.

This makes me respect President Biden as much as anything else.

G_j

(40,452 posts)
19. For decades I've been calling the WH
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 12:33 PM
Yesterday

about this. Never thought it would happen.
Thank you Joe!!!!

LT Barclay

(2,798 posts)
21. I had a professor at UMSL who had Leonard stay at his house while he was on trial in St. Louis
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 12:37 PM
Yesterday

Hopefully the professor is still around to help celebrate.

nolabear

(43,352 posts)
22. One final act of compassion
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 12:39 PM
Yesterday

I'm heartbroken that it took so long. But he gets to go home at last.

Thank you, President Biden. Thank you, Joe.

blogslug

(38,708 posts)
24. Here is an AP link
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 12:40 PM
Yesterday

Because those fuckers already took down the page on the White House website:

https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-biden-pardons-eba525b713f2ec739b84aa4426366775

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just moments before leaving office, President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.

Peltier was denied parole as recently as July and wasn’t eligible for parole again until 2026. He was serving life in prison for the deaths of the agents during a standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He will transition to home confinement, Biden said in a statement.

Biden has set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. He announced on Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. He also gave a broad pardon for his son Hunter, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes. On Monday, Biden also pardoned Gerald Lundergan, a Democratic politician from Kentucky who served in the state House of Representatives. He was convicted of illegal campaign contributions to his daughter’s failed U.S. Senate campaign. Ernest William Cromartie, a former Columbia, South Carolina, city council member who was convicted of tax evasion, also was pardoned.

The fight for Peltier’s freedom is entangled with the Indigenous rights movements. Nearly half a century later, his name remains a rallying cry...

PhilG

(11 posts)
30. Great News, but...
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:13 PM
Yesterday

This is great news. I'd written a few emails to President Biden and others in the hopes that this would happen but feared it was no longer possible.

Note: link no longer works as it now is all "you know who"

calimary

(84,917 posts)
46. Welcome to DU, PhilG!
Reply to PhilG (Reply #30)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 03:06 PM
Yesterday

I started noticing that expired-website labeling popping up in a few places by late yesterday. Looked up my now-former Rep. Chavez-DeRemer and got nothing. Like she never even existed.

Of course, if she makes it to Labor Secretary, we’ll be seeing and hearing WAAAAAAAY more than we may ever have wanted to. She wasn’t exactly a frequent communicator during her single term in Congress, although she did seem to enjoy getting her picture taken with groups of handsome firefighters.

But good riddance. We’ve got a Democrat back in that job now, and she’s well-known from four terms in the state legislature. We’ll have MUCH better representation from Janelle Bynum.

niyad

(121,359 posts)
33. So how long is it going to take to send Leonard home? How long can they
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:18 PM
Yesterday

drag it out?

Kashkakat v.2.0

(1,899 posts)
34. GOOD NEWS - on otherwise dismal day. Best possible (key word-possible) outcome
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:22 PM
Yesterday

He is out of jail but not pardoned. Maybe someday it will be recognized that from their point of view he and others were in a wartime situation and some degree of foregiveness can be accorded .

IrishBubbaLiberal

(86 posts)
41. Finally. This should have happened decades ago.
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:56 PM
Yesterday

Good. Finally!

It should have been without house restrictions,
But thankfully Biden did the right thing.

I knew AIM Clyde Bellevourt,, AIM co-founder,
Sadly Clyde died a couple years ago.

Clyde

KS Toronado

(20,040 posts)
42. Wonder how FQX will spin this if they even mention it
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 02:00 PM
Yesterday

and if they do will it be in a negative light? Think I''ll record Hannity tonight.

calimary

(84,917 posts)
45. Oh WOW! Talk about "a lovely parting gift"!
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 02:55 PM
Yesterday

I’d worried that it wouldn’t happen for him. I’m glad it did.

Another hearty “Thank You!” to Joe Biden. I’m starting to think he’ll wind up being my all-time favorite President.

A genuinely kind and compassionate man. And he’s handed off a healed and newly reinvigorated country to that Orange Thing. Wonder how soon that noble gift will be completely torn up and shat upon?

soldierant

(8,107 posts)
48. I think I'm going to frame this.
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Mon Jan 20, 2025, 08:09 PM
Yesterday

I have signed so many petitions to so many Presidents on this, including to Joe. One of the most recent ones was in the form of an editable letter, and I added a paragraph something like "This is such a no-brainer, and so unlike you, I cannot hlep but wonder whether you are even seeing or being told of all these petitions, not to mention calls from religious leaders and Nobel Prize winners." I doubt it helped, but I had to say it.

Now I need to go cry some golden tears.

Pinback

(12,931 posts)
52. "So, it's real? It's real?" Leonard Peltier responds with disbelief in learning he would finally be able to leave prison
Reply to newdeal2 (Original post)
Tue Jan 21, 2025, 09:06 AM
11 hrs ago

Last edited Tue Jan 21, 2025, 12:53 PM - Edit history (1)

"So, it's real? It's real?"
Leonard Peltier responds with disbelief in learning he would finally be able to leave prison after nearly 50 years
- Stewart Huntington, ICT News: https://ictnews.org/
Nick Tilsen and Holly Cook Macarro sat in a rental car outside the Coleman Federal Corrections Complex in Florida, trying to stay calm.

“We were listening to Sundance music and we were smudging and we were praying,” Tilsen, Oglala Lakota, the founder and chief executive of the NDN Collective advocacy organization, told ICT.

But time was running out on Monday, Jan. 20, as they watched the White House Briefing Room website for any word that outgoing President Joe Biden would grant clemency to Native activist Leonard Peltier, who has been behind bars for nearly 50 years.

“I think I have PTSD from hitting refresh over and over,” said Cook Macarro, Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, who oversees government affairs for NDN Collective. “It was really very long, maybe the longest day of my life.”


(SNIP)

The story goes on to outline the details of Peltier’s case and the decades-long effort to get him released, and continues…

“It was surreal,” said Tilsen, who remembered organizing rallies to free Peltier as a teenager in Rapid City, South Dakota. “To get to this point where this could happen … It's hard to believe. … I immediately imagined Leonard coming back to his homelands because that's the same thing that any Indian person has ever wanted to do — is to go home.”

But Peltier was still behind the walls of the Florida prison, unaware of the news. It was a federal holiday and there was no opportunity for visitations.

And then the phone rang.

“He called at 12:46,” Macarro said. “Which was almost exactly one hour after the grant of clemency had been announced on the White House website. So he had no idea … He said he'd been awake all night awaiting news. And so he said, ‘Well, you know, did it happen?’”

He was nervous, but he’d been through this before, without success.

“We were able to tell him that, yes, President Biden had commuted his sentence and he would serve out the remainder of his sentence under home confinement at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation,” she said.

“He said, ‘So it's real? So it's real?’” said Macarro, “He asked us that a couple of times. We said, ‘No, it's real.’ … It is pure joy and love and celebration today for us. And I know we share that with so much of Indian Country.”

AP News quoted Peltier’s lawyer as saying that his release date has been tentatively set for Feb. 18. Peltier will live in a home provided for him by The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (his tribe) on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, ND, according to his son. Note: There is a website for The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa at https://tmchippewa.com/, but I did not see any information about the Peltier release there yet.

More from Nick Tilsen:
He continued, “It's an acknowledgment of what was done to Indian people and how we were treated throughout history was also wrong. How he was treated in his incarceration and prosecution is consistent with how the United States government has treated Indian people … treated us that we're less than, that we're not human, that we don't deserve the same human rights that other people do, that we don't deserve the same civil rights that other people do, that our sovereignty doesn't matter, that our self-determination doesn't matter.

“And so, when you look at Leonard Peltier, one of the realities is every Indigenous person sees a little bit about themselves in Leonard Peltier and Leonard Peltier’s struggle,” Tilsen said. “Because all of us have experienced injustices at the hands of the United States government. That's why the context of this moment is so huge.”

Full story and more at Indian Country Today News: https://ictnews.org/news/so-its-real-its-real

Polybius

(18,800 posts)
53. "Peltier will likely not be able to leave the prison for several more weeks"
Reply to Pinback (Reply #52)
Tue Jan 21, 2025, 09:31 AM
10 hrs ago

Why not? It's not immediate?

Pinback

(12,931 posts)
55. AP News reports Peltier's release date is tentatively set for Feb. 18.
Reply to Polybius (Reply #53)
Tue Jan 21, 2025, 12:33 PM
7 hrs ago

From Biden commutes sentence for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, convicted in killing of FBI agents, APNews.com, Jan. 20, 2025 —

Chauncey Peltier, who was 10 when his father was locked up, said Monday he was shocked and thrilled.

“It means my dad finally gets to go home,” Peltier said. “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.”

Peltier’s tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, has a home ready for him on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota, his son said.

Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Emery Nelson said Peltier remained incarcerated Monday at USP Coleman, a high-security prison in Florida. Peltier’s lawyer said his release date was tentatively set for Feb. 18.

More at link: https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-biden-pardons-eba525b713f2ec739b84aa4426366775
Reply to this discussion
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Biden commutes life sente...
Home | Latest Discussions | Greatest Discussions | Latest Videos | All Forums

About | Copyright | Privacy | Terms of service | Contact

In Memoriam

© 2001 - 2025 Democratic Underground, LLC. Thank you for visiting.