Biden Commutes Leonard Peltier’s Sentence After Nearly Five Decades in Prison

Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier will return home after spending nearly 50 years in prison for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence on Monday, a decision hailed by Native American advocates as a historic step but criticized by law enforcement officials.

Peltier, now 80 and in declining health, will transition to home confinement. While the commutation is not a pardon, it represents a significant moment in the decades-long debate over his conviction, which advocates have called a symbol of systemic injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples in the United States.

The 1975 Shootout and Conviction

Peltier was convicted in 1977 for the killings of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a standoff on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The agents were killed at close range following a shootout as they attempted to serve arrest warrants amid tensions between federal authorities and the American Indian Movement (AIM).

While Peltier admitted to being present and firing during the confrontation, he has maintained his innocence in the killings. His conviction was based on controversial evidence, which his defense argued was falsified. Two of Peltier’s co-defendants were acquitted in separate trials.

Peltier fled to Canada after the shootout but was extradited to the U.S., where he received two life sentences. Despite numerous appeals and clemency requests, he was repeatedly denied parole, most recently in 2024.

Advocacy and Opposition

Peltier’s case has drawn global attention, with supporters including figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Coretta Scott King, and actor Robert Redford. Amnesty International has long considered him a political prisoner, citing concerns about the fairness of his trial.

The National Congress of American Indians praised Biden’s decision, calling it a recognition of the injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples. Peltier’s tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, has prepared a home for him on their reservation in North Dakota.

However, the commutation faced sharp criticism from law enforcement officials. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray had urged Biden not to grant clemency, calling Peltier “a remorseless killer.” The Society of Former Agents of the FBI labeled the commutation a “cowardly act,” and the FBI Agents Association expressed outrage.

A Long-Awaited Homecoming

Peltier’s son, Chauncey, expressed his relief and joy at the decision, describing it as a long-overdue moment of justice. “It means my dad finally gets to go home,” he said. “He’s one of the longest-held political prisoners in the United States, and now he can finally be with family.”

Peltier’s lawyer confirmed that his release date is set for February 18, 2025. Until then, he remains at the high-security USP Coleman prison in Florida.