The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is hoping Congress looks beyond Waco to investigate other cases of possible government misconduct.
While a special counsel and Congress prepare to pry into the government's handling of the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Tex., the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is hoping they will widen that inquiry to include other cases -- especially Peltier's.
"I believe it's Congress' obligation to review the case," said Pat Benabe, an committee staff member.
Recently, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said renewed congressional inquiries into Waco should expand to other instances in which Justice Department or other federal agency officials may have withheld information about government conduct.
"I think it's going to have to be broader than just Waco itself," Lott, R-Miss., told reporters Tuesday. "There are a number of investigations that they are basically either not doing or they have stiffed us on. So we need to find out what's going on."
Waco isn't the only case with inconsistencies, Benabe said.
"This has been going on a long time," Benabe said. "If there are people in that position that have broken the law, they should be removed."
The committee has already sent letters to supporters, encouraging them to mail letters to members of Congress and other government officials to expand the inquiries into possible misconduct in Peltier's case -- misconduct such as withholding documents, illegal extradition and manufactured evidence, the committee claims.
"The people could make it happen," Benabe said.
Peltier, a member of the American Indian Movement, is serving two consecutive life terms in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth in connection with the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents in a shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Four men, including Peltier, were accused of murdering the agents.
Two were acquitted, and charges against another were dropped. Peltier was convicted. He and his supporters maintain his innocence and say the government coerced witnesses and fabricated evidence at his trial.
Benabe is confident that Peltier would be freed, were his case to be reviewed.
"Nobody should be above the law," Benabe said.
The defense committee is also planning a monthlong campaign in November in Washington, D.C. The campaign will include a ceremonial run, cultural events and lobbying.
"We're hoping to generate enough media coverage to get the general public involved," Benabe said.
-- Felicia Haynes' phone message number is 832-7173. Her e-mail address is fhaynes@ljworld.com.
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