Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

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. Hyde 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 exerpt from the "Washington Times" article below Urgent Actions #1 and #2. Be warned, the article is wrought with irresponsible misinformation.

TALKING POINTS/QUESTIONS:
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.

TALKING POINTS:
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.

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, said 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.

Contact the Washington Times for the rest of the story...