History of Leonard Peltier in Timeline
Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was convicted of murdering two FBI agents during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Sentenced to two life terms, he became eligible for parole in 1993. In January 2025, President Biden commuted his sentence to indefinite house arrest.
November 1972: Bureau of Indian Affairs Takeover
In November 1972, Leonard Peltier participated in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) takeover, which began as a peaceful protest but escalated due to attempts to remove protestors.
1973: Wounded Knee Incident
The Wounded Knee incident of 1973 is mentioned as a key event in the history of Indigenous rights struggles and the context of Leonard Peltier's case.
June 1975: Pine Ridge Incident
The incident at Pine Ridge Reservation where two FBI agents were killed occurred in June 1975, a key event in Leonard Peltier's case.
December 11, 1975: Alleged Aquash Interrogation
On December 11, 1975, shortly before Aquash's murder, witnesses stated Ellison participated in interrogating her about being an FBI informant.
December 1975: Anna Mae Aquash Murder
Anna Mae Aquash, a high-ranking AIM activist, was murdered in December 1975 at Pine Ridge. DeMain's editorial alleged this was due to her knowledge of Peltier's involvement in the agents' deaths.
1975: Arrival at Oglala Nation
In 1975, Leonard Peltier arrived at the Oglala nation to help protect the Indigenous people living there from violence. He and other AIM members were ambushed and forced to defend themselves.
April 1977: Trial and Conviction of Leonard Peltier
In April 1977, Leonard Peltier's trial concluded in Fargo, North Dakota, resulting in his conviction for the murders of two FBI agents. Unlike previous trials related to the incident, the prosecution presented forensic evidence linking Peltier directly to the agents' deaths, precluding a self-defense plea. The jury's exposure to graphic crime scene photos further solidified the case against him, leading to two consecutive life sentences.
June 1, 1977: Sentencing
On June 1, 1977, Leonard Peltier received two life sentences and was transferred to the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.
1977: Start of Peltier's Sentence
Leonard Peltier began serving his sentences in 1977.
July 20, 1979: Prison Escape and Recapture
On July 20, 1979, Leonard Peltier escaped from prison with two other inmates. One inmate was killed during the escape, and the other was quickly apprehended. Peltier, armed with a rifle, evaded capture for three days before being caught near Santa Maria, California, after an encounter with a farmer.
1979: Prison Transfer and Assassination Plot
In 1979, Leonard Peltier survived an assassination attempt and a prison escape during his transfer to Lompoc prison.
December 29, 1980: Wounded Knee and Indigenous Struggles
Peltier discusses the Wounded Knee incident of December 29, 1980, as a significant event in the history of the genocide of Indigenous people, highlighting the ongoing struggles for Indigenous rights and the role of the American Indian Movement.
1986: Appeals Court Upholds Conviction
In 1986, the appeals court upheld Leonard Peltier's conviction, despite the defense's argument regarding multiple AR-15s at the crime scene. The court deemed this irrelevant, concluding that the shell casings' locations suggested they were ejected after the agents' deaths during the subsequent firefight.
1999: Peltier's Public Assertion and Advocacy
In 1999, Leonard Peltier publicly asserted his innocence on CNN, claiming to not know who committed the murders and describing himself as a political prisoner. Numerous appeals and advocacy efforts were launched on his behalf, garnering support from prominent figures and human rights organizations worldwide.
1999: Peltier Files Habeas Corpus Petition
In 1999, Leonard Peltier filed a habeas corpus petition.
2001: Clemency Rumors and Opposition
Rumors of President Clinton considering clemency for Peltier in 2001 sparked opposition, including protests by FBI agents and a letter from FBI Director Louis Freeh. Clinton ultimately did not grant clemency.
January 2002: Editorial Accusation
In January 2002, Paul DeMain published an editorial in News from Indian Country, claiming an unnamed delegation told him Peltier murdered the FBI agents and that Anna Mae Aquash was killed for knowing this.
2002: Peltier Files Civil Rights Lawsuit
In 2002, Leonard Peltier filed a civil rights lawsuit against the FBI, Louis Freeh, and other FBI agents involved in the campaign against his clemency petition.
May 1, 2003: Libel Lawsuit Filed
On May 1, 2003, Peltier sued Paul DeMain for libel due to statements published in News from Indian Country on March 10, 2003.
November 4, 2003: Habeas Corpus Petition Rejected
Leonard Peltier's habeas corpus petition was rejected by the 10th Circuit Court on November 4, 2003.
2003: Grand Jury Hearings and Fifth Amendment Invocation
During 2003 federal grand jury hearings on charges against Arlo Looking Cloud and John Graham, Peltier's lawyer, Bruce Ellison, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify.
2003: Indictments and Convictions
In 2003, two Native American men were indicted and later convicted of the murder of Anna Mae Aquash.
February 2004: Looking Cloud Trial and Conviction
In February 2004, Fritz Arlo Looking Cloud was tried and convicted of Aquash's murder. The prosecution argued AIM's suspicion of Aquash came from her hearing Peltier confess to the FBI agents' murders.
March 22, 2004: Civil Rights Lawsuit Dismissed
Peltier's civil rights lawsuit against the FBI and Louis Freeh, alleging a campaign of misinformation against his clemency petition, was dismissed on March 22, 2004.
May 25, 2004: Lawsuit Withdrawn
On May 25, 2004, Peltier withdrew his libel suit against DeMain after a settlement. DeMain issued a statement clarifying his position but did not retract the allegations.
2004: FOIA Request and Ballistics Report
In 2004, a Freedom of Information Act request led to re-examination of the FBI ballistics report used in Peltier's conviction. While an independent expert found that some casings didn't match the rifle tied to Peltier, the appeals court dismissed this, stating it wouldn't have changed the jury's verdict.
2004: Presidential Candidacy
In 2004, Peltier ran for President of the United States with the Peace and Freedom Party, securing ballot status in California and receiving approximately 0.2% of the vote.
2004: Trial Testimony Refusal and Co-conspirator Allegation
Ellison continued to refuse testimony in Looking Cloud's 2004 trial, leading the prosecutor to name him as a co-conspirator in the Aquash case based on witness statements.
February 27, 2006: Court Ruling on FBI Document Release
On February 27, 2006, U.S. District Judge William Skretny ruled against the release of five documents related to Peltier, citing national security concerns. Peltier's defense team planned to appeal the decision.
June 26, 2007: Graham Extradition Ordered
On June 26, 2007, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered John Graham's extradition to the US for his role in Aquash's murder.
January 13, 2009: Prison Assault
On January 13, 2009, Leonard Peltier was assaulted by inmates at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan. He was subsequently transferred back to USP Lewisburg.
January 2009: Clemency Denied by President Bush
President George W. Bush denied Leonard Peltier's clemency petition in January 2009.
2009: Previous Parole Hearing
Peltier's parole hearing in 2024 was his first since 2009.
2010: Graham Trial and Conviction
John Graham was tried in South Dakota in 2010 for Aquash's murder. Darlene Ecoffey testified that Peltier confessed to her and Aquash. Graham was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
2011: Prison Transfer
In 2011, Leonard Peltier was transferred from USP Lewisburg to a federal penitentiary in Florida.
2011: Kevin Sharp's Judgeship Begins
Kevin Sharp began serving as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee in 2011.
2014: Kevin Sharp Becomes Chief Judge
Kevin Sharp became the Chief Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee in 2014.
2014: Imprisonment at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex
Between 2014 and 2025, Peltier was housed at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida.
2016: Reports of Continued Abuse
In 2016, High Country News reported that Leonard Peltier had been subject to repeated assaults by inmates throughout his incarceration, possibly with the collusion of guards.
2016: Clemency Application and Campaign
In 2016, Peltier's attorneys filed a clemency application with the White House, and supporters campaigned for President Obama to commute his sentence. This included appeals by Pope Francis and James Reynolds, a former US Attorney.
January 18, 2017: Clemency Denied
On January 18, 2017, two days before President Obama left office, the Office of the Pardon Attorney announced that Obama had denied Peltier's application for clemency.
2017: Kevin Sharp's Judgeship Ends
Kevin Sharp concluded his service as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee in 2017.
June 8, 2018: Clemency Request to President Trump
On June 8, 2018, Peltier filed a formal clemency request with President Trump. KFGO Radio in Fargo, N.D., reported and published a letter from Peltier's attorney to the White House.
August 2020: Resignation from Vice Presidential Candidacy
In August 2020, Leonard Peltier resigned from his position as the vice-presidential running mate of Gloria La Riva due to health reasons. He was running on the Party for Socialism and Liberation ticket.
June 7, 2022: UN Working Group Opinion on Peltier's Detention
On June 7, 2022, the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Leonard Peltier's detention arbitrary, contravening international human rights norms. The group urged a full independent investigation and called for the U.S. government to rectify the situation.
February 6, 2023: Plea for Clemency
On February 6, 2023, Leonard Peltier made another plea for clemency.
June 8, 2024: Interview with Peltier's Attorney
On June 8, 2024, Native News Online interviewed Kevin Sharp, Leonard Peltier's attorney. Sharp, who served as a U.S. District Judge from 2011 to 2017, including a period as Chief Judge from 2014-2017, discussed Peltier's case.
June 10, 2024: Parole Hearing
On June 10, 2024, Peltier had his first parole hearing since 2009.
July 2, 2024: Parole Denied
On July 2, 2024, Peltier was denied parole. His lawyer stated an interim hearing was set for 2026 and a full hearing for 2039.