No
Parole Peltier Association
8190
Beechmont Ave., #101
Cincinnati,
Ohio 45255-6117
February
6, 2017
U.S.
Parole Commission
90
K Street, N.E. 3rd Floor
Washington,
D.C. 20530
Re:
Leonard Peltier #89637-132
Parole
opposition
Dear
Chairman Wilson-Smoot:
We
respectfully submit the following, particularly Peltier’s public admissions as
late as 2016, as justification for denying parole consideration.
Briefly,
Peltier was convicted for the brutal murder and aiding and abetting in the murder of FBI Agents Jack Coler and
Ronald Williams on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on June 26, 1975. He
received consecutive life sentences plus an additional seven consecutive years
for an armed escape from USP Lompoc in 1979. Also, due to a number of prison infractions Peltier has
served a total of over five years in solitary confinement.
Peltier’s
case has received numerous judicial reviews, twice reaching the U.S. Supreme
Court. His conviction and sentence has never been altered.
Peltier
has maintained his innocence, claiming to be a political prisoner, and has been
supported by a number of celebrities. However, his version of the killing of
the agents has changed numerous times over the years and his public statements
(set forth below) belie his innocence.
On
July 28, 2009 Peltier was afforded a full parole hearing, at which I was one of
the witnesses.
Peltier’s
parole was denied and extended for fifteen years to 2024. However, under the
sentencing guidelines he is afforded biennial interim parole review hearings
that may occur this year and in 2019.
Of
critical importance is for the Commission to be fully aware of Peltier’s public
admissions since his last parole hearing:
In
2010 Peltier stated, “And really, if necessary. I’d do it all over again
because it was the right thing to do.”
In
2014 Peltier stated, “I don’t regret any of this for a minute.”
On
February 17, 2016, Peltier submitted a petition for executive clemency. His
attorneys, Martin Garbus, Cynthia Dunne and Carl Nadler made this document
public on the Internet. President Obama denied the petition on January 18th.
The
petition is replete with factual errors and relies heavily on long disproven
claims by Peltier as he has proffered a never-ending stream of myth and
folklore surrounding the events of June 26, 1975 and beyond.
Of
critical note for parole consideration is on page three of this document under
the heading of “Remorse” where
Peltier makes yet another admission of guilt:
“I did not wake up on June 26 planning to injure or shoot
federal agents, and did not gain anything from participating in the incident.”
Prior
to, and since the 2009 parole hearing, Leonard Peltier remains the unrepentant
and remorseless cold-blooded executioner of two federal agents he and others
had already attacked and severely wounded. Agent Coler, nearly fatally wounded,
was believed to be unconscious from a devastating wound before he was shot
twice in the face. Agent Williams, however, was alive and had a defensive wound
to his hand before he too was shot in the face, killing him instantly.
Peltier
will undoubtedly claim he should be paroled because of health issues. The
Bureau of Prisons has medical facilities to address inmate aging and health
concerns. However, Jack and Ron, because of Peltier’s criminal actions, never
had the opportunity to live a full life and face the inevitable aging process.
Peltier robbed them of that possibility.
Leonard
Peltier should be shown as much consideration and compassion as he gave Agents’
Coler and Williams, which would be none.
We
respectfully request that in view of Peltier’s public admissions and lack of
remorse he should not be considered for parole at any time.
Sincerely,
Edward Woods
Edward
Woods
cc:
1-Larry
Langberg, President, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, 3717 Fettler Park Dr.,
Dumfries, Virginia 22025
1-Tom
O’Conner, President, FBI Agents Association, P.O. Box 320215, Alexandria,
Virginia 22320
1-Tamyra
Jarvis, Warden, U.S. Penitentiary Coleman 1, 846 NE 54th Terrace,
Sumterville, Florida 33521
