Former President Biden commuted the life sentence of Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents, against the urgings of former FBI Director Christopher Wray, multiple outlets report.
In a private letter, obtained by The Associated Press and other outlets, Wray described Peltier as “a remorseless killer” and argued that “any relief from his conviction or sentence is wholly unjustified and would be an affront to the rule of law.”
Biden commuted Peltier’s life sentence in the final hours of his presidency on Monday, directing that he serve out the rest of his time 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,” the White House said in a statement, noting support from tribal nations, Nobel Peace laureates and others in light of Peltier’s “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.”
The commutation is distinct from a pardon, and the White House emphasized that Peltier is not forgiven for his crimes.
Peltier, an activist with the American Indian Movement, was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. But activists have long criticized his trial and conviction as unfair. While dozens of people were present at the scene of the firefight, only Peltier and two other defendants, both of whom were later acquitted, were charged.
Pope Francis, Amnesty International, the late Nelson Mandela and one of the federal prosecutors in Peltier’s trial have been among the voices calling for his release.
But Wray wrote to the White House to oppose clemency on Jan. 10, NPR reported, expressing “hope” that “these letters are unnecessary, and that you are not considering a pardon or commutation.” Wray was appointed by President Trump during his first term, but announced last month that he’d resign ahead of Trump’s apparent plans to fire him after taking office for a second time.
