[Ppnews] Leonard Peltier parole hearing update

[Political Prisoner News]

Greetings from Lewisburg, PA.  As you know, Leonard's parole hearing
was today.  The attorney Eric Seitz is very hopeful about the outcome
of the hearing.  The government brought nothing new to the table
and made it clear that their position is that LP should never be
released despite his being eligible for parole. That, of course,
is about nothing but revenge.  Peter Matthiessen ("In the Spirit
of Crazy Horse") was a witness today.  He's attended many of the
hearings, appeals, etc., over the years.  He felt the examiner was
attentive and open to what was being said on LP's behalf.  He's also
feeling positive.  We're also told Leonard handled the Q&A (for
about 45 minutes) very well.  Unfortunately, there's nothing further
to report. The examiner said he'd like some time before making
a recommendation.  We expect that Leonard will be notified of the
recommendation within the next 24-48 hours.  This is progress, folks.
Normally a denial is made and immediately, sometimes even before LP's
lawyers have even finished their presentation.  Overall, the feeling
is that Leonard received a fair hearing. Keep up those prayers
for a positive outcome.  Ultimately, of course, the full Parole
Commission will make the final decision.  We'll keep you posted.

-----
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org


Rally calls for justice for Leonard Peltier

http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_209234743.html

By Brett R. Crossley
The Daily Item

July 28, 2009 11:50 pm

­ LEWISBURG ­ Protesters lined the southwest 
corner of Route 15 and William Penn Drive to 
fight for the release of Leonard Peltier as his 
second parole hearing was held Tuesday afternoon.
“The reason we are here is to bring attention to 
the illegal, immoral and unjust incarceration of 
Leonard Peltier that has been going on for 35 
years,” said Dave Hill, organizer of the protest. 
“Today, there is a parole hearing, and he could 
be freed this time. We are here in solidarity 
with the people trying to free him, and we are 
here in solidarity with Leonard Peltier.”
Peltier, who is serving two life sentences for 
the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 
standoff in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian 
Reservation, is being held in the Lewisburg 
Penitentiary. William Penn Drive leads to the 
institution in Kelly Township, Union County.
Bill Carter, a Washington, D.C.-based FBI 
spokesman, said: “Today was merely a hearing to 
review the parole request. The hearing was over 
at 1 p.m. Out of this hearing will come a 
recommendation that will be made before a full 
parole panel as to how to proceed. As I 
understand it, those recommendations will be made within 21 days.”
Because the hearing officials still are 
deliberating, Carter declined to say anything 
else. When the panel makes a recommendation, he 
said, the FBI will issue a statement.
Peltier’s attorney, Eric Seitz, agreed with the 
timing. He expects a decision from the U.S. 
Parole Commission within three weeks.
Peltier was convicted in Fargo, N.D., more than 
30 years ago. He has claimed the FBI framed him, which the agency denies.
Peltier grew up on the Turtle Mountain Indian 
Reservation in North Dakota. Seitz said the tribe 
sent a representative to Tuesday’s parole hearing 
to outline arrangements the tribe has made to 
incorporate Peltier back into the community if he is paroled.
“We are trying to educate people,” Hill said. “If 
you don’t ask questions, you’ll never get 
answers. As we talk to the press, the news goes 
out, and people will start investigating.”
Peltier’s sister attended the rally to lend her 
voice to those seeking her brother’s release. “I 
am really confident they will do the right thing 
and obey their laws,” Betty Solano said. “I need 
my brother. I need him home. Enough is enough. He 
is an innocent man, and it has gone on long enough.”
Peltier’s only other shot at parole came when the 
Clinton administration was still in the White 
House. Rumors that Bill Clinton was going to 
grant him clemency led to a protest from the FBI.
“It would be my dream come true if he walked 
through the gates today,” Solano said. “It makes 
me proud and humble. I feel so proud of my 
brother that so many people care for him. All he 
wants to do is help his people.”
Solano lives in Fargo, N.D., and works as the 
coordinator for the Peltier defense committee. 
Despite being hundreds of miles away, Solano 
makes the long drive to see her brother a few times a month.
“We’ve been lucky to be able to see him a couple 
times a month,” she said. “When I lived in 
Washington state, it was tough to get here. We usually drive.”
Peltier was placed on the FBI’s 10 most-wanted 
list after the shootings. He was picked up in 
Canada and fought extradition to no avail. He was 
convicted and sentenced to serve two life terms.
“We have a stake in this because a man is in 
prison,” Hill said. “The government has lied, 
manufactured evidence, and even though this has 
been proved and recognized in court, they’ve done 
that and you don’t get a new trial? If you don’t 
get a retrial, then that jeopardizes the right to a fair trial for all people.”
John Trimbach, the son of an FBI agent who was at 
Pine Ridge, says Peltier should not be freed 
until he admits responsibility for what happened and shows remorse.
n With reporting by staff writer Rick Dandes. The 
Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.




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