Dear Supporters:
In the same blog-talk-radio
interview on 11/3/12, Peltier attorney, Michael Kuzma had this to say about
Peltier’s chances for clemency. (Footnote 1)
“Well
if you read some of the recent articles, in fact there was, there were a couple
of articles published within the past couple of weeks which indicated that
President Obama has been the stingiest President since Reagan with
respect to the granting of pardons and commutation of sentences, he’s actually
been worse than Bush Two. Obama has been a disappointment in so many
different ways. I know, David Geffen from Dreamworks was a big supporter of
President Clinton and actually decided to back President Obama over Hillary Clinton
because Bill Clinton didn’t commute Leonard’s sentence, you know, in spite of
that support from Geffen and some of the Hollywood types. President Obama has
made, you know, no indication that he’s gong to commute Leonard’s sentence any
time soon.”
Peltier knows the only way
he’s walking out of Coleman-1 is with
a commutation of his sentence.
Based on his 2009 Lewisburg
parole hearing his next hearing won’t be until July, 2024, at the age of 80,
and a projected release date still many more years after that. Face it, parole
is off the table.
In Kuzma’s interview he adds
another insult to the President like Peltier did previously. Kuzma’s “Obama has been a disappointment in so many
different ways,” was discourteous and inappropriate when they’re supposed
to recognize that the President is the only one they need to convince. But,
Peltier did the same thing; in another public interview when President Clinton
didn’t cut him lose he said, “These politicians are such sleazebags that you
just don’t know.” That was in 2000. Guess some people, or their attorneys it
seems, just can’t grasp the concept of not insulting the people you most need
to win over. But that’s been a brand mark of the entire Peltier campaign for
decades. (Fn. 2)
As for President Clinton not granting clemency, we’ll
have to leave it at this: There were several who came out publically and
claimed credit for convincing President Clinton not to free Peltier (and as it
turns out he was on the short list…even with some staffers at the White house
Christmas party that year actually wearing “Free Peltier” buttons). But for those
claiming credit it was just wishful thinking. Fact is that only three people
know exactly why Peltier wasn’t released, President Clinton and two others. And
the reason came down to a basic understanding that President Clinton recognized
Peltier’s crimes were significant and freeing him would accomplish nothing.
The Statistics:
President Obama has pardoned
twenty-two and commuted one sentence, while denying approximately one thousand others.
It has been reported that President Obama takes his exclusive Constitutional
authority very seriously and was troubled (as were many others, both in
Washington and elsewhere) by President Clinton’s pardon of fugitive investor
Marc Rich. (Fn. 3)
Of those pardoned, all had
served their sentences, thirteen received sentences of only probation, and of the others who were
incarcerated, averaged sentences of only 2.8 years. The shortest sentence was
30-days, and the longest, nine years, for relatively minor charges ranging from
drug offenses to a liquor law violation and mutilation of coins. There were no
terrorists, rapist or murderers on the President’s list. (F. 4)
The recipient of the
commutation, a female, had served 10 of a 22-year sentence for selling crack cocaine,
which was challenged by her attorneys based on a disparity of sentencing
guidelines. She was also undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. (Fn. 5)
However, if you recall, Mafia
boss, John Gotti, sentenced to life in prison for murder and racketeering, died
in prison from cancer. (Fn.6)
So the statistics do not
bode well for any realistic chance Peltier would be considered for release and
there are a number of factors the President would certainly consider in the
process. And, of course, he has many more pressing concerns about the country
at the moment.
More to follow….
“In the Spirit of Coler and
Williams”
Ed Woods
Footnotes:
