Dear Supporters:
Today marks Peltier's arrest by the RCMP at Smalulboy's camp in Alberts, Canada, although Peltier's incarceration has not been continuous.
More to follow.
"In the Spirit of Coler and Williams"
Ed Woods
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
SA JACK R. COLER: 1947-1975 REST-IN-PEACE
Dear Supporters:
Husband, father, son, brother. Professional, dedicated, courageous.
These are some of the words that come to mind when we remember Jack. Others are
partner, friend and the unquestioned character traits of Fidelity, Bravery and
Integrity. Jack left behind a loving widow and two young sons who may have only
a faint memory of their devoted, caring and brave father.
On January 12, Jack would have reached his 71st birthday. There is no way of knowing
what these last decades of his life may have brought. But those who knew him
could easily imagine a life rich in accomplishments and strong family ties. Retired
from a long and productive Bureau career and with Jack’s commitment and
dedication to law enforcement (former LAPD), he may have pursued another career
as a Chief of Police. Or, with his sons and grandchildren continued his great love
of the outdoors with deeper adventures exploring remote wilderness areas.
All the potential enjoyment, happiness, successes and challenges
of a life that was to be, however, was robbed from Jack, his family, and many
friends by the Cowards of Jumping Bull on that agonizing and tragic day in
1975.
With certainty, Jack Coler, looking down, knows that we will
continue to honor his memory and sacrifice in the line-of-duty.
That reverence
and commitment has no expiration date.
To see Jack as he was then, and to imagine meeting him today,
please see the remarkable video produced by the Society of Former Special
Agents of the FBI available on YouTube. There, you will learn about the
incredible Jack Coler and his equally brave and courageous partner, Ron
Williams:
Added recently to this tribute is a heartfelt song written and
performed by retired Agent Fernando Candelario:
“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
P.S.
On occasions of recognizing Jack’s and Ron’s birthdays, we
don’t mention or comment on Peltier and the International Leonard Peltier
Defense Committee propaganda machine. However, the ILPDC’s 12/29/17 Press
Release raises issues that beg for a response. https://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/general/end-of-year-ilpdc-letter/
Note to Peltier attorney
David Frankel:
You may want to advise your clients that claiming donations
to Peltier to “…use it as a tax write off
on your 2017 Tax Return,” is in violation of I.R.S. laws. Felonies? Peltier
is not a charity case, not a 501(c)3 (and can never be one…nor legally launder
money through a shill company as they have done in the past), nor be in a
position where the implication is that, as an inmate, he is running a business
to raise funds from the unsuspecting, now under the guise of a “Peltier legal trust fund,” (whatever
that may be). We will watch closely to see how all this fits together. These
are pieces of a puzzle Peltier does not want supporters or the public to see
what the final picture really looks like. But most already know.
A new plan? Extradition, parole hearing, Habeas Corpus,
investigators on the prowl?
The Canadian government spoke very clearly about Peltier’s legal
extradition.
The parole board has spoken; flopped for fifteen years in
2009, for the second time. They obviously acknowledge Peltier’s conviction and
otherwise have no tolerance for his shallow and fabricated claims of innocence.
Habeas Corpus generally has to be predicated on newly
discovered evidence. Good luck there for the forth or fifth time, along with other failed renewed appeals; rule
35’s and 2255’s. Many, well seasoned and dedicated attorneys have been through
every word of the Peltier case and have, unsuccessfully, made no headway.
(Except for the October 1984 Evidentiary (ballistics) hearing that was further
held against Peltier by the 8th Circuit….Hon. Judge Gerald Heaney: “When all is said and done, however, a few
simple but very important facts
remain. The casing introduced into evidence had in fact been extracted from the Wichita AR-15. This point was not disputed: although the defense
had its own ballistic expert, it offered no contrary evidence.” http://www.noparolepeltier.com/800.html:
Investigators: Please feel free to have any one of them
contact me. I would be more than happy to provide them meaningful documentation.
Lord knows they could use it. Curious though, according to you, “The committee has retained the services of
two investigators...” “Retained” implies, at least, payment for services,
yet Peltier still has a pending judgment but at the same time claims indigency.
Seems to raise a conflict here, money for questionable pursuits but not
legitimate legal debts. But Peltier is entitled to an appeal, again.
You advise Peltierites that, “These efforts will require your financial support.” (There’s the
money again.) Peltier, now with his attorney’s urgency, is always on the
come as they say. Certainly billable hours do accumulate, and apparently
every penny counts.
Monday, January 1, 2018
PELTIER: JAMES REYNOLDS, PART III, DANCING ON GRAVES
Dear Supporters:
What follows is a review of the NPPA letter sent to former
United States Attorney James Reynolds on 11/6/17 along with a brief telephone
call on 11/27/17. To be clear at the outset, Mr. Reynolds is entitled to exercise
his First Amendment right to free speech, as are we to challenge his questionable public
statements.
The text of the telephone call is set forth below (Footnote
#1).
By way of background and as a follow-up to the previous NPPA
blog, Mr. Reynolds was sent a letter on November 6th asking specific
questions concerning his public statements in an undated letter to President
Obama and an interview with the New York
Daily News. (Fn. 2).
The NPPA letter offered Mr. Reynolds the opportunity to respond
to the following questions: (Fn. 3)
-His justification for believing
that justice is served with Peltier only serving 20 ½ years, each, for the
brutal murder of two already severely wounded FBI Agents.
-To clarify the critical statement
to the New York Daily News that “we may have shaved a few corner(s) here and
there” regarding Peltier’s conviction and appeals, and as a result, impugning
the reputation of at least former United States Attorney Evan Hultman.
Reynolds should answer these questions for the following
reasons:
1) “Reynolds claims to have ‘directed Hultman’s handling of the appeal of
Leonard Peltier.’
Statement of Lynn E. Crooks, Retired Assistant United States Attorney, North Dakota.
"This claim is a gross misstatement of the record.
The trial record being in Fargo, ND it was only logical that I be given
primary responsibility for assigning and coordinating research projects with
other members of the trial team and then preparing the first drafts of the
Government’s responses to the murderer’s arguments. In doing so I had
numerous conversations with Mr. Hultman and all other members of the trial
team, as well as my own United States Attorney. Other than small stylish
changes there were no substantial changes that I can recall being made to the
agreed upon drafts which were prepared in this fashion. I had no
conversations of any kind with Mr. Reynolds. To the best of my knowledge
he contributed nothing what-so-ever to what went into the final brief on Direct
Appeal or into any of the subsequent government briefs resisting Peltier’s
numerous attempts to obtain Post Conviction Relief.” (Emphasis added)
2) On December 7, 2017 former United States Attorney Evan Hultman was
contacted and advised of the content of Reynolds’ letter and media interview.
Because of a critical family matter Mr. Hultman advised that he would formally
respond when able. However, his initial reaction concerning Reynolds was
extremely negative.
3) Reynolds’ letter to President Obama appears as a “Press
Release” on the Peltier website. (Fn. 4)
(Reynolds provides his claimed authority to speak in favor of clemency as the
former U.S. Attorney who allegedly
“directed” the handling of Peltier’s appeals).
4) On the Internet, Peltier supporters have quoted Reynolds’
New York Daily News statement that “we may have shaved a few corner(s) here and
there.”
5) Reynolds public statements to the media may
provide the new Peltier legal team
with an avenue to pursue regarding Peltier’s conviction and failed appeals.
*
* *
We only have Mr. Reynolds public statements to hint
at his motivation to become a shill for the Peltier camp. At what point he
decided to support Peltier is unknown. Perhaps he ignored, forgot, or wasn’t
knowledgeable of the voluminous legal proceedings and documentation in the
Peltier case, but then conceivably became enamored and then sucked into the
murk of Peltier myth and folklore.
However, Reynolds did take that step perhaps understanding
he was going against his own conscience, best judgment, and fidelity to his former
position and colleagues by stating “I know I’m going against company policy, as
they say.”
Reynolds public statements called into question
Peltier’s conviction and appeals by suggesting, “corners” were “shaved” and by
doing so, assailed the integrity and reputation of the federal prosecutors, and by implication, himself as well. Which brings us back to the initial premise:
If Reynolds had any information of this sort, where has he been for the past
twenty-five or so years and why did it take him this long to crawl out of the
woodwork? Peltier had other clemency and parole opportunities, but by all
accounts, Reynolds remained mute.
Reynolds public position for Peltier can be viewed
in two ways: supporting clemency (commutation of sentence) and the issue of
Peltier’s guilt or innocence.
Claiming that it’s a matter of Peltier’s age and
time served rings hollow.
Reynolds commented that,
“But at this point, we’ve got 40 years on
him, 40 pounds of flesh, maybe it’s time to let him go ... I don’t think
keeping him in there will make society a better place."
Forty pounds may be a
little generous and perhaps it is possible that the bloated figure I sat next
to at Lewisburg Penitentiary in 2009 may no longer be a physical threat, but then there’s the matter of justice and society
is always better served when justice is the final outcome. (Fn.5)
As for Peltier’s age and
health, perhaps Mr. Reynolds should consider the alternative. Facing, as we
all must, the inevitable challenges of aging, with Reynolds now approaching his
79th year, or, at age twenty-eight being critically wounded and then
having his face blown off? Doubtful Reynolds would choose the latter.
Calling into question the handling of Peltier’s
conviction and appeals, by implication and inference, could suggest that
Reynolds may also support Peltier’s spurious claims over the years. A few for
instance:
“I
can’t believe that the FBI intended the deaths of their own agents…they didn’t
even have a warrant for his arrest—nor does it jibe with the fact that scores,
even hundreds, of FBI agents, federal marshals, BIA police, and GOONS were all
lying in wait in the immediate vicinity.” A lie! (Fn. 6)
“There were dozens, maybe
hundreds, of FBI, local lawmen, GOONs, and white vigilantes out there, suddenly
appearing within minutes as if from out of nowhere…” A Lie! (Fn. 7)
“I
fired a few shots above their heads, not trying to hit anything or anyone…” A
lie! (Fn. 8)
“I
didn’t see their agents die, had no hand in it, would have done anything to
stop it had I only known in time…” A Lie! (Fn. 9)
“…(Law
enforcement) had been gathering in the area for a planned paramilitary assault
on the Pine Ridge reservation…This raid had obviously been preplanned. Maybe
they figured they could come in and finish us off after the two agents had
drawn our fire, giving them the excuse they needed.” A lie! (Fn. 10)
“This
story is true.” (Peltier’s only alibi, that the phantom Mr. X killed the agents
and drove off in the infamous red pickup.) A Lie! (Fn.11)
And
there is so much more.
* * *
Mr. Reynolds ended our brief
telephone conversation with:
“Well you’re an interloper in this
whole thing, dancing on these guy’s
graves and I don’t think it’s very appropriate.”
Interloper? Apparently Mr.
Reynolds doesn’t understand the meaning of the term.
By definition an interloper
is a person who becomes involved
in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to
belong.
Reynolds alleged personal involvement in the Peltier case—as questionable
as it may be—is at least a quarter century in the past. Where has he been
concerning Peltier since the early 1980s and did he harbor any affirmative feelings
towards Peltier when he allegedly had the opportunity and authority to say so? Reynolds,
an interloper, now materializes at
this point in time.
Here’s the difference: This writer was in the FBI for nearly three
decades and after meeting Jack Coler’s youngest son and witnessing all the
misinformation Peltier had posted on the Internet and in the public domain—that was unchallenged up to that point—something
had to be done. Peltier’s denigration of the memory and sacrifice of two young
Agents brutally murdered in the line of duty—for which he was convicted—prompted taking up the cause to honor
their memory.
As fellow Agents, whom I never met, challenging and exposing Peltier’s
years of fabrications and outright lies, Mr. Reynolds, is “appropriate.”
No, Mr. Reynolds, their memory here has been sustained. However, it is
more telling that someone in your previous position and who publicly supported
clemency for a convicted brutal double murderer, makes you the one who is dancing
on these guy’s graves.
And for the record, so perhaps you will remember, their names are,
Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams.
“In the Spirit of Coler and
Williams”
Ed Woods
P.S.
Mr. Reynolds, take a few moments and meet Jack and Ron:
“Remembering FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams”
Video produced by the Society of Former Agents of the FBI
Footnotes:
1)
Telephone conversation on November 27, 2017:
James
Reynolds (JR): Hello.
Ed
Woods (EW): James?
JR:
Yeah.
EW:
Hi, this is Ed Woods, I wrote you a letter on November sixth regarding Leonard
Peltier and I just wanted to make sure you received it.
JR:
I did.
EW:
OK, would you care to make any responses to the questions I raised?
JR:
No.
EW:
Well, you took a pretty strong stance for clemency for Peltier with your letter
and your interview with the Daily News, so are you in a position to back up
some of the claims that you made?
JR:
I’m not going to discuss it with you; I don’t know why I should.
EW:
Well, I think you should because as a former U.S. Attorney…
JR:
Well you’re an interloper in this whole thing, dancing on these guy’s graves
and I don’t think it’s very appropriate.
EW:
Hello?
(From
notes taken during the conversation and transcribed immediately thereafter.)
2) New
York Daily News interview, Tuesday January 3, 2017.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ex-u-s-attorney-backs-leonard-peltier-bid-clemency-article-1.2933475
(Last accessed
12/4/17)
3) http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/12/james-reynolds-part-ii-letters-public.html
(Press
release with Reynolds’ letter; Last accessed 12/4/17: Peltier’s then attorneys Marty
Garbus and Cindy Dunne offer the typically skewed version of the Peltier case,
but two things stand out; for a not so apparent reason, while quoting James
Reynolds, they make no mention of the elephant in the room (shaved a few
corners…), and then they dredge up very tired old news about 8th
Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Heaney. Judge Heaney did offer his
opinion about freeing Peltier, but they would dare not tell the rest of the
Heaney story; http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/10/peltier-heaney-factor.html
Footnotes 6 through 10, quotes taken from Peltier’s autobiography Prison Writings, with additional references.
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/585.html (Paragraph 4)
8)
Peltier admits for the first time in a televised 60 Minutes interview with Steve
Kroft that he fired “at” the Agents. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc9ofu (Last accessed 12/3/17)
9) http://www.noparolepeltier.com/judge.pdf Peltier’s conviction and
review and details regarding Judge Heaney. http://www.noparolepeltier.com/585.html (Direct Appeal: note the
names of Evan L. Hultman and Lynn E. Crooks)
http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#amazon, Peltier’s alibis.
10)
The fallacy of a preplanned raid. The “Sanctioned Memo:”
11)
The lie of Mr. X: Quote from Peltier in the film Incident at Oglala.
(Note:
To all the loyal NPPA supporters, thank you, and even the Peltier supporters
who are on the NPPA emails lists, best to all for a healthy and Happy New Year.
)
Saturday, December 9, 2017
EDDIE MALONEY RETURNS TO NEW YORK
DEAR SUPPORTERS:
In a brief respite from matters Peltier, the following true story is offered.
A follow-up video is available on YouTube:
EDWARD PATRICK MALONEY
(2004) Eddie is sitting on a shelf in the basement. His remains actually, and how he came to be there is quite a story.
The first question to ask is whether the world is a better place without him.
You’ll have to be the judge of that.
As difficult as it is to admit, there was a time I really hated Eddie. It would be an understatement that for a long time he made my life miserable, but, over time, I came to care for him like a lost stepbrother in need.
I met Eddie Maloney in the summer of 1982. He committed suicide in the summer of 2004 and it remains to be seen whether this recap of our times together will be an obituary or eulogy. The fact that Eddie had been shot a total of ten times at point blank range on two separate occasions mattered little in the end. Eddie Maloney is what was left after life finished screwing him.
Eddie was an unforgettable character, straight off the screen of Pulp Fiction. Not an imposing presence, he was on the short side, but extra-broad shoulders gave the impression of a larger man. There was no mistaking what was on his mind; his thoughts showed clearly in facial expressions that ranged from disgust, to hatred, to intimidation. Dark drab eyes topped by his most prominent feature, thick reddish eyebrows, accented a ruddy complexion with distinct features and character lines, not from a life of luxury and happiness but from the burden of deep emotional scars and experiences. What can be said of someone who had prison tattoos across the fingers of his right fist that spelled V-I-L-E? There was nothing subtle about him, he moved through life like a bulldozer pushing aside a pile of rubble. Finesse wasn’t his strong suit. In his own world, Eddie was a powerhouse. Problem was though; he generated more heat than light.
It would be impossible to forget our first meeting in July 1982. Eddie had just turned forty. I was a thirty-six year old career FBI agent. The purpose of the mix should be obvious, and hardly a match made in heaven. It was a marriage of necessity, the proverbial shotgun wedding. At that moment too many people were trying to kill him—and nearly did—and he had information about some crime figures that the Bureau wanted. More precisely, he wanted to use the government, and I wanted to use his testimony. I envisioned us both testifying, and we did, but not until 1986. It was a long and difficult four years, even longer after that, for both of us. During that time I learned all there was to know about Eddie Maloney including all I didn’t want to know or deal with. I learned to dislike him and then understand him, how fundamentally intelligent he was, and why he pretty much became a social outcast.
(The following eighty pages are omitted…)
Epilogue (2017):
My plan had always been to bring Eddie home to New York City. He grew up on the Lower East Side. His drunkard father abused him and his mother. His father was out of the picture early, and for some inexplicable reason known only to her, Eddie’s mother put him in a Catholic orphanage at age six. Ironically, Eddie’s mother was employed as a nurse at the time.
History has shown that 1950s Catholic orphanages were horrible and demeaning institutions. I believe that experience created the foundation for Eddie’s developing anti-social behavior and personality. Nuns had little tolerance for a rambunctious or out of control Irish kid.
I have pondered the nurture/nature debate. Eddie was basically smart, probably above average intelligence and often displayed an excellent memory, although sometimes filtered through the prism of his life-challenging experiences, and sometimes just to suit his own view of things. In my opinion, Eddie was a victim of the nurture side. His early years created the twisted path his life followed.
I had a miserable and abusive childhood—nothing like Eddie’s, but severe enough that it still bothers me to this day. I did, though, have the advantage of growing up in a solidly middle class suburb that offered advantages and options. And somehow along the way, I did learn the value of a strong work ethic.
I have often contemplated the “What If” of Eddie Maloney. What if it was reversed and he grew up in the suburbs and I on the Lower East Side? Would I have fared any better than the other Eddie? My gut tells me no.
Eddie’s basic intelligence never amounted to much. Doing the math, in 1982, having just turned forty, he had been incarcerated nearly twenty years. We actually sat down and added up the months one time. Much of that time was in solitary for violating prison rules and for one prison escape. Out of prison, obviously, Eddie wasn’t a successful criminal. His short times back on the streets took him to Manhattan’s swankiest nightspots where he lived and partied hard before getting pinched again.
Eddie never killed or seriously injured anyone. His specialty was high-end burglaries and thefts and too often double-crossing those who thought he could be trusted. A couple of those escapades put him on a hit list that eventually forced him to come over to the dark side and reluctantly start working with the Feds. Eddie despised everyone in law enforcement, who he un-affectionately referred to as “da bulls.” But at that point his options in the street were severely limited. Cooperate or perish. It was that simple.
His ventures into the Witness Protection Program were problematic, following the program’s rules and attempting an unsuccessful transition to the work-a-day world were insurmountable challenges.
It’s not totally coincidental that Eddie wound up near where I eventually settled as well, finishing one career, then another.
The 1990s for Eddie were generally uneventful but for a couple of minor scrapes with the law that didn’t set him back much. He had actually gotten a real job for a while. Phone sales of some sort. As time passed, it was amusing to hear the change in his telephone demeanor from that of a gravelly New York tough guy to being somewhat polite and civil.
He would call occasionally and give me updates and for the last ten years or so we would get together for lunch on his birthday. We had some good conversations about our days in New York and how he was getting along. Eddie did have a good sense of humor, unless he was drinking. Back in the day, Eddie was a nasty drunk and readily admitted that alcohol and gambling were his uncontrollable weaknesses.
The last couple of years he talked about the chemo and radiation treatments for throat cancer, the result of a lifetime of heavy smoking since he was probably around twelve. As a non-smoker this was always a source of tension between us.
Towards the end he wrestled with the possibilities of a laryngectomy. I didn’t think he would go through with it but apparently he did want to continue the fight.
In the process he had other health complications and I visited him in the hospital several times.
On one visit, after the laryngectomy, I was surprised that when he tried to talk there was absolutely no sound at all. Not even the sound of passing air. He did, though, write notes. One was for me to go downstairs and get him a pack of cigarettes.
Eddie was released, and I had planned to visit him at his apartment to see what help I could offer. I was away on business, and it was a couple of weeks later I learned from one of his friends that he had apparently collected his prescription medication, overdosed, and had been cremated. His friend eventually gave me the urn with his ashes.
My immediate family is small and a remaining nephew was getting married on Long Island, which offered an opportunity to finally bring Eddie home.
I transferred the sealed bag that held Eddie’s remains from the urn into a suitable metal tin for the trip.
With apparent irony I donated the urn to a local Catholic charity.
I checked the TSA website for the requirements to carry human remains. I was pleased that when I stated I had a container with human remains they followed the TSA protocol, being both thorough and professional.
We had the day of the wedding to find a suitable resting place. As it turned out, that day, April 27, 2017, was the birthday of our first son who we lost when he was three in 1977 due to congenital heart problems. Otherwise, it was an incredibly beautiful day.
I didn’t know what I was going to say. It was a spontaneous farewell, a brief summary from the heart for someone whose life had taken many terrible turns. Although Eddie created most of his own problems in life, it was those early years that robbed him of the opportunity to do otherwise and find a better path.
My daughter captured the moment perfectly.
May God be with you Eddie. Rest in Peace.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
JAMES REYNOLDS, PART II, The Letters & Public Statements
Dear
Supporters:
What follows is a No
Parole Peltier Association letter sent to Mr. James Reynolds on 11/6/17 asking
a few straightforward and critical questions in response to the letter he sent
to President Obama and an interview given to the New York Daily News supporting
clemency for Leonard Peltier. Mr. Reynolds made a conscious decision and placed
his support for Peltier in the public domain. Doing so makes his public
statements subject to scrutiny.
No response was received
from Mr. Reynolds.
However,
on 11/27/17 Mr. Reynolds was reached by telephone, and in a brief, but telling
conversation, confirmed that he had received the NPPA letter. A response to Mr.
Reynolds and the explanation of the letter below will follow in a subsequent
blog: James Reynolds, Part III.
“In the Spirit of Coler
and Williams”
Ed
Mr. James H. Reynolds
300 Palm Dr. #4
Naples, Florida 34112
Re:
Leonard Peltier, clemency
Dear Mr. Reynolds:
It matters little if this letter
is a bit late; it’s never too late to ask why you supported clemency for the
convicted murderer Leonard Peltier with your letter to President Obama—or to
ask you to explain the disconcerting public statements you made to the New York
Daily News concerning Peltier.*
Your letter stated that
preceding you in office was U.S. Attorney Evan Hultman, who had prosecuted
Peltier and that you “…directed Hultman’s handling of the appeal of Leonard
Peltier after my appoint (sic).” This would apparently indicate that you were
intimate, or at the very least familiar, with the details of the unprovoked
attack and brutal murders of FBI Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams,
Peltier’s trial, conviction and subsequent multiple appeals. As you were no
doubt aware at the time of their deaths, Agent Williams was single and Agent
Coler left behind a widow and two young sons, ages three and one and a half.
Your brief letter (which had
been previously questioned**) stated that you “would join in any Request for Clemency of Leonard Peltier by (President
Obama) as being in the best interest of justice in considering the totality of
all matters involved.”
However, your public statements to the media raised a
number of crucial issues and questions that beg for an honest response.
You stated, “Forty years is
enough,” which prompts the first question.
How many years are enough to
serve for two brutal murders? Thus far into Peltier’s consecutive life sentences
(not to forget also the seven consecutive years he owes for the armed escape
from Lompoc Penitentiary), he has served 20 ½ years each for Jack Coler and Ron
Williams. In your judgment is that enough for brutal slayings? Exactly how much
is enough for blowing away the faces of two—already severely wounded—human beings?
Before you answer, consider if those deaths had involved members of your own
family. Would that make any difference since you obviously didn’t know or have
a personal relationship with the dead agents?
(Peltier appropriately
received consecutive life sentences and in our opinion serving all of that is enough. Then we can give him a pass
on the other seven years.)
You added that you weren’t convinced
of Peltier’s guilt: “I don’t know. Who
knows?” and then stunningly stated regarding Peltier’s case, “we might have shaved a few corner(s) here
and there.”
This
raises some serious questions. Since you allegedly “directed Evan Hultman (and
presumably Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Crooks), what did you know regarding
Peltier’s case that either they or the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
(particularly Judge Gerald Heaney***) didn’t know that would have affected Peltier’s
conviction, sentencing or appeals?
Are you knowingly and
publicly admitting to any wrongdoing that occurred under your direction as the United States Attorney
while simultaneously casting serious aspersions on the reputations of former
U.S. Attorney Evan Hultman and quintessential career federal prosecutor, Lynn
Crooks? Basically, the NPPA is calling you out on this.
In one of the many appeals,
the Eighth Circuit stated, “Peltier was
equally well-represented at trial and on appeal.”
Over decades of appeals
Peltier had many competent, experienced and aggressive attorneys who
collectively examined every aspect of his conviction in excruciating
detail—from the serious (October 2,1975 FBI Laboratory Teletype that led to a
three-day evidentiary hearing) to the frivolous (“Peltier’s arguments fail
because they are fatally flawed”).
Peltier’s case has been
under the proverbial microscope since day one.
While you consider a
response, we want to bring you up to date on some of Peltier’s public
statements and tacit admissions of guilt:
Peltier, not obliquely,
since you were part of the government,
referred to it as “blind, stupid, or
without human feelings.” Was Peltier correct in that assessment as it
relates to you? Peltier said, “white
racist America is the criminal.” Was Peltier correct? When you served in
government, were you, or are you, a white racist? Peltier claimed he was a “scapegoat” and “was the last Indian left to railroad for the deaths of their two agents.”
So, Mr. Reynolds, are you culpable in scapegoating Leonard Peltier?
We suspect that you would
rightly deny all that, but then there’s your interview with the NY Daily News.
Perhaps you misspoke or they misquoted you?
As a further update, since
you publicly called for Peltier’s clemency, where you aware that he has
remorselessly said:
“And really, if necessary, I’d do it al over again because it was the
right thing to do.” (Leonard Peltier, February 2010)
“I don’t regret any of this for a minute.” (Leonard Peltier, August
2014)
Ironically, included in the
very clemency petition that you publicly supported, his attorney allowed this:
“I did not wake up on that June 26 planning to injure or shoot federal
agents, and did not gain anything from participating
in the incident.”
No regrets, he’d do it
again, it was the right thing to do, wasn’t planning—at any rate—to injure or
shoot federal agents and, he acknowledged participating. (And there is much
more…)
Mr. Reynolds, would you care
to clarify your position that Peltier’s consecutive life sentences should have
been commuted? Keep in mind though that the U.S. Pardon Attorney, the U.S.
Attorney General and ultimately, President Obama agreed that Peltier should
continue to serve his consecutive life sentences for the brutal murders of Jack
Coler and Ron Williams.****
Sincerely,
“In the Spirit of Coler and
Williams”
Edward Woods
(last accessed 10/30/17)
*** http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/10/peltier-heaney-factor.html**** http://wwwnoparolepeltiercom-justice.blogspot.com/2017/01/
Monday, November 27, 2017
PELTIER: FLORIDA & MONEY TRAIN
Dear Supporters:
A November 11th communiqué from Peltier/ILPDC
revealed some interesting details and potential conflicts as they have
established their new “National Office
here in Tampa, FL.”
Apparently, the November 6th Tulsa concert didn’t
meet expectations. According to the ILPDC they “didn’t raise as much money as we had hoped.” (Yet, did anyone catch the November 10th
ILPDC press release entitled, “The
Concert was a Wonderful Success.” Mixed messaging is a Peltier staple.)
The NPPA has been informed that the
concert was poorly attended and probably lost money. There were approximately 1900
seats available and less than half were filled. There was very little fundraising
activity at the venue. Aside from the poor timing of the event (months from now
no one will even remember) it is just another indication that Peltier’s
notoriety continues to slip away.
The concert begs the question; just how much did they
raise? Though the amount raised was
not disclosed; where it allegedly went was. According to the ILPDC “The money raised went directly into Leonard
Legal Trust account.” (Which is odd that it isn’t the Leonard Peltier account. But perhaps that
was just a typo or oversight.) However, this bears the markings of an oxymoron;
it is remarkable that a convicted felon/inmate is having money from various
sources funneled into a “legal trust.”
Solicitations for donations of checks, money orders, PayPal
and purchasing Peltier’s artwork continues in earnest, which raises again some
curious questions.
It certainly sounds like there’s a business being run, at
Peltier’s direction and on his behalf, from the ILPDC National Office at 116 W.
Osborne Ave., Tampa, FL 33603
Nevertheless,
the Florida Solicitation of Contributions Act (FSCA) regulates solicitation of
public contributions and requires full disclosure of certain information from
persons soliciting contributions in Florida.
The FSCA
requires anyone who solicits donations from people in the State of Florida to
register with the department and renew annually. The department collects
registration fees and has authority to impose penalties for non-compliance.
Are
Leonard Peltier and his International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
complying with Florida laws as they fund the Leonard Legal Trust account?
The City of
Tampa has certain business operating requirements and states that it is
unlawful for any person to engage in a regulated business without a current business-operating
permit. And, in fact, each day of operation without a permit constitutes a
separate offense. The city goes on to require that any person who shall commence operation of a
regulated business before obtaining a business operating permit shall pay
double the application fee prescribed for that business. The payment of the
double fee shall not preclude, nor be deemed a substitute for prosecution, as
provided for elsewhere in the city code.
Peltier’s ILPDC is located in a single-family residence in
Tampa. There are likely zoning requirements regarding potentially operating a
business from a single-family residence.
Are Leonard Peltier and his International
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee conforming to the City of Tampa (and
Hillsboro County) business and zoning regulations? That remains to be seen.
“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
P.S.
1) In November Peltier sent yet another rambling message
filled with characteristically disjoined claptrap and rhetoric. For the benefit of diehard Peltierites
who are unable or incapable of seeing through the fog of Peltier myth, folklore
and fabrications and to help connect the—dots—regarding the hypocrisy of the money
train, he publicly provides us with this little gem:
“The air, the water, the soil, all of nature is screaming against the
injustice that is continually perpetrated by those who worship money…and Peltier continues with…If you have any questions
about donations for my new legal team please call our new office in
Tampa, FL.” (Leonard Peltier,
November 23, 2017)
From Peltier’s lips to God’s ears.
Actually, from a convicted double-murderer’s lips to the
Creator’s ears.
A time will be here, one day, when Peltier will face the
Creator and mumble his truth about what actually happened at Jumping Bull, and Jack
and Ron will be watching.
2) Curiously, on 11/20/17 a Florida corporate filing was
rejected. The reason is not clear but the filing was for the International Leonard Peltier Defense
Offense Committee. Oddly though that the Peltier website clearly lists it
as the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.
Offensive as much of the material on the Peltier website may be, is this just
another example of the mixed messaging from the Peltier camp?
Monday, November 13, 2017
PELTIER: "THE MURDER OF COLER AND WILLIAMS"
Dear Supporters
Thanks to the talent and creativity of retired FBI Special Agent
Fernando Candelario, please visit the link below for a song written and
dedicated to the memory and sacrifice of Jack Coler and Ron Williams.
Fernando’s interest in music and playing the guitar began at age
thirteen as a U.S. Army dependant in Panama. Fernando started his thirty-year
FBI career in 1972 as a support employee and became a Special Agent in May
1978. He was promoted to a Supervisory position and finished his productive
career and an Assistant Special Agent in Charge of a field office. During his career, Fernando served in
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Miami, Florida, FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C., the
U.S. Embassy in Panama and Dallas, Texas.
Fernando’s heartfelt dedication for Jack and Ron can be heard, along
with many other original songs, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIPnGLC4v6A
“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
(P.S. If the link doesn’t connect to the video, either cut
and paste into a browser or go to Youtube.com and search for the Murder of Coler
and Williams)
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