Dear Supporters:
Peltier did not have to serve an additional '289' months, (24 years).
As Peltier finally leaves the U.S. prison in Coleman, Florida for North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, there remains a question as to why and how he served an additional twenty-four years’ incarceration—after—President Clinton left office on January 20, 2001.
Why didn’t President Clinton commute Peltier’s consecutive life sentences?
In the waning weeks of the Clinton presidency there was much activity and Peltier was a major news topic.
Peltier supporters were elated, out in droves, demonstrating, campaigning and calling for his release, while those opposing made their voices known as well.
FBI Director Louis Freeh wrote official letters and spoke publicly; the FBI Agents Association placed a large ad in a Washington newspaper; The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI added their opposition as many current and retired Agents wrote letters opposing any consideration for a possible commutation.
Susan Lloyd, an Agent based in Washington D.C. assembled a team and organized what became—only the second time in FBI history, a rare public display of solidarity to voice their collective opinion to the President. It was no small task to arrange permits, logistics and spread the word that a supportive and public gathering was necessary. [1]
On that crisp morning, December 15, 2000, upwards of five-hundred off-duty Agents began gathering at the Washington D.C. Law Enforcement Memorial. FBI Director Louis Freeh was there to show his unwavering support, understanding that he would be unable to accompany the Agents. There was a prayer vigil, and the names of FBI Agents killed in the Line-of-Duty were solemnly read.
By late morning, a silent and dignified two-by-two procession made its way to the Ellipse and White House. The morning chill offset by occasional sunshine. FBI Agents, including Agents from other agencies, reached the White House. Standing in silence, they displayed two large photographs of Agents’ Coler and Williams. At the head of the procession a prominent white banner read:
“Never Forget,” “FBI Special Agents, Coler and Williams, Killed June 26, 1975.”
Special Agent John Sennett, President of the FBI Agents Association, was permitted to enter the White House with large binders containing over ten thousand petitions and signatures asking President Clinton not to grant Peltier a pardon or commute his consecutive life sentences. Agent Sennett placed the binders on the President's desk in the oval office. Although the President was not there that day, he was certainly aware of the event and petitions as well as considerable news coverage, both filmed and in print. [2]
As expected from the Peltier camp, Peltier attorney Jennifer Harbury—quoted in the press, absurdly described that day as “Armed forces marching on the White House.”
A federal lawsuit followed from Peltier attorney Bernard Kleinman, claiming that government misinformation and disinformation prevented Peltier from receiving a fair hearing on his claims for both clemency and parole. The federal suit was eventually, along with another later federal civil suit, dismissed with prejudice. [3]
Peltier pinned his best hope at that point, after 25 years of incarceration, that he, his supporters and attorneys believed the end was at hand. President Clinton was his very best chance since there was nothing positive from four previous Presidents as Peltier’s many, often frivolous appeals, made their way through the courts. But it was not to be.
* * *
During the early months of 2000, a prominent attorney, Stan Chesley, received antisemitic and threatening letters directed at him and his family. [4] Mr. Chesley was well-known and influential in Democratic circles. The younger President looked to Mr. Chesley not only as a powerful supporter but as a mentor. When visiting the city, the President stayed at Mr. Chesley’s home. When Mr. Chesley visited the White House, he had stayed in the Lincoln bedroom. The bond between the two was strong on many levels. Mr. Chesley’s wife, a federal district court judge, was appointed by President Clinton.
The threatening letters continued with no readily apparent leads until they were sent to the FBI Laboratory Identification Division for latent fingerprint analysis. In late September, the Lab came back with a hit on an individual who lived locally. Ultimately, affidavits were prepared for the subject’s arrest and a search of his residence. The subject was arrested, held without bond and the search secured additional evidence along with the typewriter used to write the threatening letters. He later pled guilty.
As a result of this investigation, I was well-known and liked by the Chesley family.
December was fast approaching, as was the final days of the Clinton Presidency and a personal decision was contemplated; then made.
I had a rewarding, productive and unblemished nearly thirty-year career and believed it was the right thing to do; to step outside the box and see whether this could work. I was willing to take the risk, regardless of the outcome.
I contacted Mr. Chesley’s security manager and bodyguard, Tom, a retired local police Lieutenant who I had previously met, probably at a bank robbery. I asked if he could arrange just a fifteen-minute meeting with Mr. Chesley so I could provide him with details regarding Peltier’s conviction, appeals, many public statements and the facts related to the brutal murder of two, already wounded and defenseless, FBI Agents.
The meeting was set for 11:00AM on December 7th.
* * *
I was given a casual tour of the law firm and directed to wait in Mr. Chesley’s office. Looking around his corner office it appeared to be rather ornate, nothing fancy, but with many plaques, awards and photographs. There were stacks of papers and files on his desk and elsewhere. I was certain he knew what each pile represented and if he needed to look at a case would know exactly where to find it. There were also about a dozen scale model cars. I learned later he had quite a luxury car collection.
Mr. Chesley arrived about a half hour later.
He apologized for being late, not realizing I would have sat there for a week if necessary.
The fifteen minutes turned into forty-five.
He appeared as distinguished as I had seen him in news coverage and newspapers, smartly attired with his notable pure white hair. In person, he was a dignified, warm and soft-spoken gentleman.
Mr. Chesley wasn’t familiar with the Peltier matter so I began with a recitation of what had happened, how the Agents were first taken under an unprovoked attack, severely wounded and defenseless; and then Peltier shot them both in the face. Adding too, that Agent Williams was still alive and had defensive wounds. I outlined the appeals and court decisions. The binder I brought remained closed. It contained crime scene photos but I chose not to show them. As expected, he stopped me several times for additional details and clarification as any experienced attorney would. I reviewed many of Peltier’s claims of innocence, public statements, and mentioned that he and his supporters considered him a political prisoner.
Mr. Chesley nodded often in agreement with occasional age lines at the corner of his eyes. When I reached the critical purpose of my visit, knowing that Peltier was on the very short list for a pardon or commutation, without hesitation he said “I’ll tell him he can’t let this guy out.”
The tension building throughout my entire body dissipated almost as quickly as his comment ended. What he was telling me, in very real terms, was that he would tell the President of the United States that he should not free Peltier.
Mr. Chesley wrote down Peltier’s name, then added that he had just left a message for Bruce Lindsey but had not heard back yet. He continued that he would call Mr. Lindsey after our meeting and relay how he felt about the entire Peltier matter. [5]
With immense gratitude, I stood and gave Mr. Chesley a firm handshake.
Tom was there the whole time but never said anything. He did though offer an occasional nod of approval. As he walked me from the office, he casually mentioned that Mr. Chesley was going to the White House that weekend.
* * *
The phone call.
Early the following week, I received a telephone call from Mr. Chesley as he was returning from Washington. It was a brief but exceptionally meaningful conversation. He said he spoke with the President and that Peltier would not be released. He commented that some White House staffers wore ‘Free Peltier’ buttons and he told them that it was inappropriate. The call ended with “Thank you very much sir, it is greatly appreciated.”
For the next twenty-four years, this encounter has been held in abeyance. The time has now arrived to tell the story as it happened and its ultimate effect on Peltier’s future. I still had to wait until January 20th to appreciate that the potential of Peltier’s freedom ended thanks to that brief meeting. For all these years, and now, those in the FBI and law enforcement still owe Mr. Chesley an incredible debt of gratitude as he clearly recognized what was the right thing to do.
Peltier’s commutation challenges continued. He unquestionably recognized that the eight years of President Bush and four years of President Trump would not benefit him at all. President Obama could have released Peltier at any time during his eight years. Although there was concern about that possibility, ultimately President Obama denied Peltier’s application. President Obama certainly recognized Peltier’s unrepentant and murderous acts.
This now totaled twenty (20) years of Peltier’s additional incarceration—beginning with that crucial connection with President Clinton.
But what of President Biden? Biden, who with absolute authority could have released Peltier on January 20, 2021, but for untold reasons chose not to. He instead preferred to let Peltier languish in prison for another four years. However, in a highly controversial move, Biden waited until the very last moment to commute Peltier’s sentence, attempting, as it appeared, to conceal this act from major public scrutiny and also by pardoning his own family and others. History will determine and assess Biden’s actions and administration, particularly the infamous laptop and the still to be fully vetted decades of an influence peddling scheme.
But for an unexpected intervention, Peltier would have been released in January 2001.
Peltier made a fateful decision that June day in 1975, a decision that cost him his fifty (50) best years, years he will never recover. Justice may not have been entirely served, but 50 years is nothing to take lightly.
“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
Founder, No Parole Peltier Association, April 30, 2000 [6]
[1] Special Agent Susan Lloyd did a masterful job organizing the December 15, 2000 procession to the White House. She essentially brought the entire Peltier matter, and the brutal murder of FBI Agents’ Coler and Williams to the public’s nationwide attention. A few Agents were designated to be interviewed and engage with the press. The next day, the No Parole Peltier Association website received over 5,000 hits
[2] Founded in 1981 in the FBI’s New York office, the FBI Agents Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that engages in support and advocacy for current and retired FBI Special Agents.
[3] Kleinman’s suit named FBI Director Freeh, FBI Agents Ed Woods, John Sennett and others named and unnamed. A later 2017 federal civil suit filed in Washington State by Peltier attorney Lawrence Hildes, naming Ed Woods and Larry Langberg (RIP), then President of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, along with several Washington State officials. The suit claimed a violation of Peltier’s First Amendment rights. After many frivolous motions and appeals it was dismissed by the District Court with prejudice.
[4] Stanley M. Chesley, the son of Jewish immigrants, grew up in modest means in the Cincinnati suburb of Avondale. He attended the University of Cincinnati for his bachelor’s and law degrees. Over a successful nearly fifty-year career he created a powerful law firm and won billions for victims in massive class action lawsuits. Mr. Chesley also engaged in many philanthropic endeavors and was personally active, and a fundraiser, for the Democratic Party. Regretfully, his career did not end well, facing personal lawsuits, legal actions and disbarment. Postscript: In December 2015, three gangbangers followed an older couple, Mr. Chesley and his wife, driving an expensive vehicle from a restaurant to their home in the suburb of Indian Hill. The subjects broke in, holding both at gun point, stealing what they could and demanding where other valuables were kept. At one point, Mr. Chesley, then 80, was pushed down a flight of stairs, suffering a concussion and serious injuries. The judge, in a nightgown and bare feet, was able to escape and ran through nearby woods to a neighbor’s house to call the police. The subjects fled, but in their haste, ran a stop sign and were pulled over by a local police officer. In their vehicle were items stolen from the Chesley home and a number of weapons. By April, the three pled guilty and were each sentenced to 34 years.
[5] I was not familiar with the reference, however, Bruce Lindsey served a critical role as assistant and Deputy Counsel to President Clinton during his entire two terms in office.
