Petition for the Release of Peltier Case Documents Under FOIA
Honorable Chuck Grassley, Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. Senate
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
First, thank you for protecting and advancing government transparency through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
As you may recall, Leonard Peltier is a prominent Native American activist who is currently imprisoned at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Leonard Peltier was convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on June 26, 1975, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
For years, Leonard Peltier's attorneys have attempted to secure his files from the FBI under the FOIA. FOIA requests have been made on Mr. Pelter's behalf to FBI Headquarters and its field offices around the country. There have been numerous unnecessary delays in the handling of the FOIA requests submitted on Mr. Peltier's behalf, however, and the FBI almost always refuses to release documents citing national security interests. It's difficult to understand what possible risk to national security exists related to a case the FBI investigated over 34 years ago.
I urge you to hold a hearing on the handling of Leonard Peltier's FOIA requests. The FBI must be required to divulge the exact number of documents it maintains on Leonard Peltier and the Field Offices that maintain these records; the total number of documents regarding this case that have been destroyed, as well as the date and authority under which records were destroyed; and whether or not any records dealing with Leonard Peltier have been transferred to any other agencies, as well as pertinent details of those transfers.
More importantly, these documents—that are over 25 years old and historically significant—must be released. At this time, the FBI continues to withhold over 70,000 documents that are known to exist. These documents may contain new information that will shed light on this controversial case. These documents must be released to the public without delay.
Thank you for your consideration.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 6, 2011
September 4, 2011
We need to hit the one thousand signature mark to ensure the Senate Judiciary Committee cannot ignore our demand for transparency. Post the link to your Facebook timeline right now and include a note about why these documents must be released. Use your phone to text the petition link to three people you know who care about government accountability.
Reached 100 supporters
August 20, 2007
August 18, 2007
We are approaching one hundred signatures and need to maintain this momentum to catch the attention of the Senate committee. Post the petition link on Facebook right now. Text three people in your contacts and ensure they sign before the day ends.
284 Comments
We know the truth. We know about Myrtle Poor Bear, we know about the red pickup truck, we know FBI agents are trained to observe so their own radio call did not say a white and red Suburban VAN..when will it be viewed as an unjust case?
Non-disclosure of records that are decades old provide grounds for this matter to be fully investigated... what is FBI trying to hide from the public. Only when full disclosure is made, may the evidence be fully weighed and REAL justice sought... and provided!
As an American, I have the right to know what is in these documents. Holding back this info while a man, innocent of the killings, is being held in a penitentiary as his health declines, is irresponsible and frankly, reprehensible.
This and many other abominations have been going on since the original documented invasions over 500 years ago. Free Leonard Peltier and tell the truth of 500 years of genocide. Release the unredacted documents.
Pretty evident you do not want to release this elder indigenous man because you are afraid you will be sued for imprisoning an innocent person by a corrupt institution begun by a corrupt leader named Hoover! Release him now!
Do the right thing. FREE LEONARD PELTIER!
This has gone on far too long.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Petition for the Release of Peltier Case Documents Under FOIA
Honorable Chuck Grassley, Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. Senate
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
First, thank you for protecting and advancing government transparency through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
As you may recall, Leonard Peltier is a prominent Native American activist who is currently imprisoned at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Leonard Peltier was convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on June 26, 1975, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
For years, Leonard Peltier's attorneys have attempted to secure his files from the FBI under the FOIA. FOIA requests have been made on Mr. Pelter's behalf to FBI Headquarters and its field offices around the country. There have been numerous unnecessary delays in the handling of the FOIA requests submitted on Mr. Peltier's behalf, however, and the FBI almost always refuses to release documents citing national security interests. It's difficult to understand what possible risk to national security exists related to a case the FBI investigated over 34 years ago.
I urge you to hold a hearing on the handling of Leonard Peltier's FOIA requests. The FBI must be required to divulge the exact number of documents it maintains on Leonard Peltier and the Field Offices that maintain these records; the total number of documents regarding this case that have been destroyed, as well as the date and authority under which records were destroyed; and whether or not any records dealing with Leonard Peltier have been transferred to any other agencies, as well as pertinent details of those transfers.
More importantly, these documents—that are over 25 years old and historically significant—must be released. At this time, the FBI continues to withhold over 70,000 documents that are known to exist. These documents may contain new information that will shed light on this controversial case. These documents must be released to the public without delay.
Thank you for your consideration.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 6, 2011
September 4, 2011
We need to hit the one thousand signature mark to ensure the Senate Judiciary Committee cannot ignore our demand for transparency. Post the link to your Facebook timeline right now and include a note about why these documents must be released. Use your phone to text the petition link to three people you know who care about government accountability.
Reached 100 supporters
August 20, 2007
August 18, 2007
We are approaching one hundred signatures and need to maintain this momentum to catch the attention of the Senate committee. Post the petition link on Facebook right now. Text three people in your contacts and ensure they sign before the day ends.
284 Comments
Please uphold the FOIA and release the documents regarding Mr. Leonard Peltier so that the truth can be made known to all. The FOIA was established for exactly this purpose and the international community continues to beseech for this information to be released. Thank you.
We know the truth. We know about Myrtle Poor Bear, we know about the red pickup truck, we know FBI agents are trained to observe so their own radio call did not say a white and red Suburban VAN..when will it be viewed as an unjust case?
Non-disclosure of records that are decades old provide grounds for this matter to be fully investigated... what is FBI trying to hide from the public. Only when full disclosure is made, may the evidence be fully weighed and REAL justice sought... and provided!
As an American, I have the right to know what is in these documents. Holding back this info while a man, innocent of the killings, is being held in a penitentiary as his health declines, is irresponsible and frankly, reprehensible.
This and many other abominations have been going on since the original documented invasions over 500 years ago. Free Leonard Peltier and tell the truth of 500 years of genocide. Release the unredacted documents.
Pretty evident you do not want to release this elder indigenous man because you are afraid you will be sued for imprisoning an innocent person by a corrupt institution begun by a corrupt leader named Hoover! Release him now!
Do the right thing. FREE LEONARD PELTIER!
This has gone on far too long.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 2,500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Please uphold the FOIA and release the documents regarding Mr. Leonard Peltier so that the truth can be made known to all. The FOIA was established for exactly this purpose and the international community continues to beseech for this information to be released. Thank you.