Honorable Senator/Representative Honorable Senator/Representative, I am writing to you on behalf of Leonard Peltier, the US most prominent political prisoner. An innocent man who has spent almost thirty years of his life incarcerated to appease a vengeful government agency. I urge you to look at the facts and act in your full capacity as a representative of the citizens of this country, in every way you can to free this man. An in depth investigation of government misconduct in Leonard Peltier’s case and surrounding “Reign of Terror” at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is long overdue and should occur within Peltier’s lifetime. Time is quickly running out. As has been thoroughly shown, the United States attorneys, together with the United States prosecutor in Canada conspired with the FBI to coerce a Native woman with a history of mental health issues, to sign affidavits implicating Leonard Peltier in the shooting of the FBI agents (for which Peltier is serving two consecutive life sentences) to obtain his extradition from Canada. During Peltier’s trial, key evidence that exonerated him was withheld, witnesses were held and intimidated by the FBI, the FBI had exparte communications with a judge trying the case, Peltier’s defense team was infiltrated and the prosecution was receiving first-hand information concerning the defense. Even up to today, the FBI refuses to release at least 140,000 pages of documents related to the case, many of which are being destroyed. Even the Tenth Circuit Court stated: “Much of the government behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and in prosecuting Mr. Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld documents. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are undisputed…. But [this] is a question we have no authority to review.” As Barry Bachrach, Peltier’s lead counsel states “If the Judicial Branch has no authority to review outrageous government conduct, who does? If the Judicial Branch continues to acknowledge that Mr. Peltier’s due process rights were violated, but claims it has no authority to rectify it, then who does?” We respectfully request your assistance in catalyzing an inquiry over these and other related examples of government misconduct in Peltier’s case, the immediate release of the documents withheld, and any action that would be conducive to fulfilling Amnesty International’s request for Peltier’s release. The wrongs perpetrated on the indigenous peoples of this land are a conspicuous blemish tarnishing the history of this country that purports itself as the example of democracy, justice and freedom. We cannot go back in time, but what can be done today is to put an end to the assault on indigenous people and give us/them long overdue justice. Rectifying the wrongs inflicted upon Leonard Peltier, a beloved warrior of the indigenous people, would be a most appropriate and timely beginning. Respectfully, |