After nearly five decades behind bars, Leonard Peltier, now 80, has been released from federal prison. His freedom comes courtesy of a clemency grant from former President Joe Biden, a decision met with sharp criticism from law enforcement, particularly the FBI. Peltier's conviction stems from the 1975 ambush and killing of two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. While Peltier and his supporters celebrate his release as a victory against wrongful incarceration, the FBI and families of the slain agents maintain that Peltier is a "remorseless killer" who received undue leniency.

Peltier's release was marked by a celebratory gathering organized by indigenous rights groups, who view him as a symbol of their struggle. He expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating that imprisonment failed to break his spirit. However, the decision to grant clemency was heavily contested, with former FBI Director Christopher Wray and the FBI Agents Association voicing strong opposition. Wray had directly appealed to Biden, arguing that any relief for Peltier would be a grave injustice and an affront to the legal system.

Peltier had been serving two consecutive life sentences for the murders, with an additional seven years for an attempted escape. He boarded a private jet following his release, destined for his home state of North Dakota. The clemency grant, one of Biden's final acts as president, ignited a firestorm of controversy. Former FBI agent Ed Mireles, a recipient of the bureau's Medal of Valor, echoed the sentiment that Peltier deserved no mercy, emphasizing the brutal nature of the agents' killings.

Special Agents Coler and Williams were stolen from their families, robbed of the chance to share precious time and milestones with their loved ones. Leonard Peltier should not have been granted a mercy he so cruelly denied to the Coler and Williams families.

— Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association

While previous presidents Clinton and Obama denied Peltier clemency, he garnered support from prominent Democrats, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Law enforcement officials remain deeply disturbed by the decision. Peltier, a member of the American Indian Movement, has long maintained his innocence, claiming he was denied a fair trial. He portrays himself as a political prisoner, a narrative embraced by his supporters. At the time of the shootings, Peltier was wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer in Wisconsin.

The 1975 incident began when agents Coler and Williams were searching for armed robbery suspects. Peltier, though not a suspect, was traveling in a vehicle that drew their attention. A shootout ensued, leaving both agents dead from execution-style head wounds. The FBI asserts that Peltier was the only person present with a weapon capable of inflicting those injuries – an AR-15 rifle. While four men were initially arrested, only Peltier was convicted. Charges against one were dropped, and two others were acquitted. The FBI maintains that Peltier has confessed to firing at the agents on several occasions, including to Canadian authorities after fleeing across the border and in a "60 Minutes" interview.

Peltier is a remorseless killer, who brutally murdered two of our own – Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. Granting Peltier any relief from his conviction or sentence is wholly unjustified and would be an affront to the rule of law.

— Christopher Wray, former FBI director

Despite numerous failed appeals, including two to the Supreme Court, Peltier's supporters continue to allege prosecutorial misconduct and flawed evidence. Biden, however, cited broad support for clemency from various groups, including tribal nations, Nobel laureates, and former law enforcement officials. Peltier's sentence has been commuted to home confinement. The FBI Agents Association president, Natalie Bara, reiterated their stance, emphasizing Peltier's lack of remorse and the injustice done to the families of the slain agents.