Reply #23: Clinton's decision was political [View All]

[Lexingtonian]

I think the FBI "threats" and "secret evidence" and such have been overrated as reasons Bill decided not to go through with it.

The evidence against Peltier is at best equivocal or exonerating, and it is tainted by the Nixon/Ford era coercion and collusion methods of the FBI and white South Dakotan law establishment. But that some member of Peltier's faction/AIM did kill the two agents, that is about as clear. And they haven't actually come forward and supplied the proof.

The juridical question is basically "not proven". But the political problem is that freeing Peltier will cause all sorts of bad blood to get out in the open again, within Pine Ridge and South Dakota and likely the various nearby states. Basically, all the people in positions of power within the conflict at the time are invested in the outcome and will raise hell using whatever influence they have. That Peltier gets killed within the first months or years is a distinct possibility.

My guess is that Peltier needs outright unequivocal exoneration and/or 5-10 years until conditions are such (meaning, all the other players are dead/nearly dead- too) in the Dakotas that he can be pardoned. And by then he maybe wouldn't have to be on the run, wouldn't have to publicly protest his innocence at every available occasion.

I was somewhat involved in the efforts to obtain a proper investigation in the Dudley George killing (in Ipperwash, Ontario) some years ago. It was incredibly disheartening to see how much racism against Native Americans there is in rural areas. The friends I made- Chippewa- really opened my eyes that the problems in flyover country are very deep, but some wonderful people are hidden among so much dross in those regions.