Leonard Peltier, an enrolled Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe citizen, will go home after nearly 50 years in prison. In the final minutes of his term in office, President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence. Peltier was convicted in 1975 for the deaths of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975.
“I have to give kudos to (the Biden Administration) for finally doing the right thing and setting Leonard free,” said Paulette Dauteuil. “It’s going to be a wonderful, wonderful homecoming for Leonard.”
Dauteuil was married to Peltier’s cousin, the late Bob Robideau, who was acquitted for the same shooting for which Peltier was convicted.
One of Peltier’s attorneys, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, told Native America Calling that she was stunned by the news.
“I did not expect to experience euphoria today,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Peltier’s lead attorney Jenipher Jones in an interview with Native America Calling. “I was happy for Leonard. I give thanks to the Creator. Today, a measure of justice has been served to Leonard after almost 50 years.”
Outgoing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo citizen, posted on X that commuting Peltier’s sentence ″signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades. I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family”.
I am beyond words about the commutation of Leonard Peltier. His release from prison signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades. I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family. I applaud President Biden for this…
— Deb Haaland (@DebHaalandNM) January 20, 2025
Listen to Native America Calling’s interview with attorneys Jenipher Jones and Moira Meltzer-Cohen as well as Peltier’s cousin, Paulette Dauteuil:
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