From: "LPDC" <lpdc@idir.net> Subject: URGENT PELTIER ACTION Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 19:44:37 -0500 URGENT ACTION: CONGRESSMAN HYDE MISUSING JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO OPPOSE CLEMENCY FOR PELTIER According to the “Washington Times,” Congressman Henry Hyde, who actively opposes Leonard Peltier’s release, is now heading a House Judiciary Committee “investigation” on the case of Leonard Peltier. He will be forwarding the results to President Clinton. Leonard Peltier’s attorneys have not been contacted by the House Judiciary Committee and the Judiciary Committee has not reviewed anything other than FBI information to our knowledge. Furthermore, Congressman John Conyers, the ranking democrat of the House Judiciary Committee and a supporter of Leonard Peltier’s, has not even been informed about, or included in the so-called investigation. Clearly Congressman Hyde is abusing the power of the House Judiciary Committee by disguising his opinion as an unbiased “investigation” in an attempt to interfere with the clemency process. Therefore, urgent action is needed to oppose this move. For more information, read the “Washington Times” article below. Be warned, the article is wrought with irresponsible misinformation….not a surprise coming from this particular paper. URGENT ACTION #1: Call the House Judiciary Committee: 202-225-3951 WHAT TO SAY: 1. We want to know why Congressman Hyde is conducting a Judiciary Committee investigation on the case of Leonard Peltier without informing all of the other committee members, including the Ranking Democrat, John Conyers. 2. We also want to know why none of Mr. Peltier’s attorneys have been informed about this investigation. 3. We strongly oppose the conducting of an investigation whose pre-determined goal is to oppose clemency for Leonard Peltier, rather than allow all sides of the situation to be heard fairly and equally. 4. Amnesty International, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, several members of Congress, and millions of US citizens have looked into the case of Leonard Peltier and determined that he should be immediately released. We suggest the Judiciary Committee thoroughly examine our reasons, including the utilization of falsified evidence, the withholding of exculpatory evidence, and the coercing of witnesses in gaining Mr. Peltier’s conviction. Equally important, the US Attorney has admitted on several occasions that he cannot prove who shot the agents. Documentation to all of these claims is ample, and can be provided to the Judiciary Committee by Mr. Peltier’s attorneys. URGENT ACTION #2: Call Congressman John Conyers John Conyers 202-225-5126 WHAT TO SAY: 1. According to the “Washington Times” Congressman Henry Hyde has initiated a Judiciary Committee investigation into the case of Leonard Peltier. 2. Leonard Peltier is considered by Amnesty International to be a political prisoner who should be “immediately and unconditionally” released. Literally no evidence exists as to his guilt. 3. Congressman Conyers has long raised questions as to the fairness of Mr. Peltier’s trial and we are upset that he has not been included in the investigation. 4. Congressman Hyde openly opposes Leonard Peltier’s release through Executive Clemency, and has initiated the so-called investigation for this reason only. 5. We are calling to urge Congressman Conyers to intervene in the investigation by voicing his concern with the many improprieties involved in the conviction of Leonard Peltier, as he has rightly done many times in the past. 6. We strongly oppose any investigation that will not be inclusive to our many concerns about the Peltier case including the utilization of falsified evidence, the withholding of exculpatory evidence, and the coercing of witnesses to gain a conviction. Any investigation that fails to do so would be unfair, deceptive, and an unjust interference of the clemency process. ARTICLE: Clemency review worries House Judiciary chairman Hyde says inquiry on Peltier blocked by administration By Jerry Seper, The Washington Times The chairman of the House committee yesterday accused the Clinton administration of blocking efforts to find out the status of a pending clemency review for Leonard Peltier, the American Indian activist convicted of murdering two FBI agents in a 1975 shootout. Rep. Henry J. Hyde, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, sad he is “concerned about the possibility” of clemency for Peltier, now serving two life terms at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., in the murders of Agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams. “When I learned the Department of Justice was actively reviewing this case, I wrote to Attorney General Janet Reno twice requesting information relating to the clemency review,” Mr. Hyde said in a statement. “in response, DOJ refused to provide answers to my inquiry on the ground that clemency and pardon matters are subject to executive privilege,” the Illinois Republican said. “I am concerned about the silence from DOJ and the White House on this matter. This should be an easy decision – Leonard Peltier should serve his complete sentence and should not receive clemency.” Mr. Hyde has begun a committee investigation into the matter. He also sent a dozen letters yesterday to law enforcement associations nationwide, outlining the case against Peltier and describing his concerns about a possible clemency order. The clemency petition is under review by the Justice Department, which will make a recommendation to President Clinton in the case. The department has refused to hand over documents to Mr. Hyde concerning the review, saying Congress “has no authority whatsoever to review a president’s clemency decision.” Justice Department officials have confirmed the review is ongoing, but have declined to elaborate. Peltier, 55, filed a petion for clemency in November 1993, his third such request. President Reagan rejected a similar petition in 1982, and a 1989 request was administratively closed by President Bush. The Supreme Court has twice denied without comment Peltier’s appeals of his conviction. Eligible for parole in 2008, he was convicted in the June 26, 1975 murders of Mr. Coler, 28, and Mr. Williams, 27, and sentenced June 2, 1977, in Fargo, N.D. His conviction came after he fled to Canada and was extradited to the United States. The killings occurred at South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, near Wounded Knee, when Peltier’ van was stopped by the agents looking for a suspect in a kidnapping and assault. According to court records, Peltier was himself a fugitive and thought he was about to be arrested. The records show Peltier fled the van with two others and began shooting at the agents with semi automatic rifles. Mr. Coler and Mr. Williams were wounded immediately. Crime-scene experts said the agents fired only five shots before being hit, compared with more than 125 bullet holes found in their car. Prosecutors said Peltier and two other men approached the wounded agents and fired three shots at point-blank range, hitting Mr. Williams in the face as he knelt and Mr. Colder who was still unconscious. twice in the head. Law enforcement authorities from throughout the country have united in a letter-writing effort to prevent Peltier’s release – led by the 9,500-member FBI Agents Association and by agents at the bureau’s 56 offices nationwide. The association, in a recent letter to Mr. Clinton, described Peltier as a "murderer with no respect or regard for human life.” It told Mr. Clinton there was “no justification” for a grant of clemency, calling Peltier “a vicious, violent and cowardly criminal who hides be hind the Native American Community.” FBI Director Louis J. Freeh also has opposed clemency, saying Peltier's guilt “has been firmly established.” Mr. Freeh has said the agents were killed with rifle bullets at close range after they had been wounded in a gunfight. “The FBI cannot forget this cold-blooded crime nor should the American people,” Mr. Freeh said in a statement. Efforts by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee for a clemency grant by Mr. Clinton have drawn noticeable support from the Hollywood community, which contends – but has offered no proof – the FBI withheld or planted evidence and coerced witnesses to win Peltier’s conviction. That effort has been led by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Robin Williams and Robert Redford. The defense committee has said it received positive reaction from both Mr. Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. Call the White House Comments Line Today Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111 Be in New York City December 10th Peltier March For Freedom! Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 www.freepeltier.org