Leonard Peltier Granted Clemency As President Biden Leaves Office

WASHINGTON — In one of his final acts while in office, outgoing President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence for activist Leonard Peltier, who has already served 49 years in prison in the shooting deaths of two federal agents during a standoff at Pine Ridge in 1975.

Peltier, who has suffered ongoing health problems, will be allowed to live out his life at home, according to a statement issued by the White House.

“The President is commuting the life sentence imposed on Leonard Peltier so that he serves the remainder of his sentence in home confinement,” according to the White House statement. “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 news release disappeared, and the link responded with a 404 error, after President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office Monday.

“It’s finally over – I’m going home,” Peltier is quoted as saying in an NDN Collective news release. “I want to show the world I’m a good person with a good heart. I want to help the people, just like my grandmother taught me.”