ORRIN HATCH INTRODUCES BILL THAT COULD THREATEN PELTIER’S CHANCES OF RECEIVING CLEMENCY
1 Mar 2000
Orrin Hatch, Senate Judiciary Chairman, introduced a bill on February 28, 2000 that threatens to severely restrict the Executive Clemency Process. The bill is called ‘the Pardon Attorney Reform and Integrity Act’ (Senate Bill 2042). If passed, it would hamper the process to the extent that presidents would be unable to consider a clemency petition with neutrality. The bill will force the president to consider the views of law enforcement agencies and victims when considering a clemency petition and furthermore, it would allow law enforcement and victims to have knowledge of the status of the petition, whereas now, such information can be kept confidential by the Executive Branch. There is currently nothing that prohibits the president and justice department from considering the views of law enforcement and victims when considering a clemency petition. The bill would defeat the whole purpose of Executive Clemency by giving a totally unfair advantage to those who oppose a particular application. This is especially true since the person filing for Executive Clemency would not be allowed to know the status of the petition while law enforcement would.
If this bill is passed it will quash Leonard Peltier’s chances of receiving Executive Clemency. The FBI are the ones who have obstructed justice in his case from the beginning. Leonard Peltier is their victim. This bill would only allow them to obstruct justice once again. The clemency process is meant to be a final avenue of redress for prisoners when the courts have failed them and/or when there are circumstances beyond those the courts can consider that should be weighed. This bill violates the US Constitution, which grants the power of Executive Clemency solely to the US president who is supposed to be able to look upon a case impartially.
Please contact the members of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and let them know you are strongly opposed to the bill S.2042, ‘Pardon Attorney Reform and Integrity Act’. Here are some points you can mention:
Voice your concern by calling or faxing the United States Senate Judiciary Committee: Tel (202) 224-5225, Fax (202) 224-9102
Please contact the members of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and let them know you are strongly opposed to the bill S.2042, ‘Pardon Attorney Reform and Integrity Act’.
U.S. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
REPUBLICANS
Hatch, Orrin (R - UT)
Chairman
131 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5251
senator_hatch@hatch.senate.gov
Thurmond, Strom (R - SC)
217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
senator@thurmond.senate.gov
Grassley, Chuck (R - IA)
135 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3744
http://grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm
Specter, Arlen (R - PA)
711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4254
senator_specter@specter.senate.gov
Kyl, Jon (R - AZ)
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
info@kyl.senate.gov
DeWine, Mike (R - OH)
140 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2315
http://www.senate.gov/~dewine/request_form.html
Ashcroft, John (R - MO)
316 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6154
john_ashcroft@ashcroft.senate.gov
Abraham, Spencer (R - MI)
329 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
michigan@abraham.senate.gov
Sessions, Jeff (R - AL)
495 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4124
senator@sessions.senate.gov
Smith, Bob (R - NH)
307 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2841
opinion@smith.senate.gov
DEMOCRATS
Leahy, Patrick (D - VT)
Ranking Minority Member
433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4242
senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Kennedy, Edward (D - MA)
315 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4543
senator@kennedy.senate.gov
Biden Jr, Joseph (D - DE)
221 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5042
senator@biden.senate.gov
Kohl, Herb (D - WI)
330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5653
senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov
Feingold, Russell (D - WI)
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5323
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA)
331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Torricelli, Robert (D - NJ)
113 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
senator_torricelli@torricelli.senate.gov
Schumer, Charles (D - NY)
SH-313 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
senator@schumer.senate.gov
SENIOR STAFF
Manus C. Cooney, Chief Counsel and Staff Director
Bruce A. Cohen, Minority Chief Counsel
Office of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Room: SD-224
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5225
(202) 224-9102 - Fax
You may also phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and an operator
will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.
LPDC
Call the White House Comments Line Today Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
www.freepeltier.org
Back to: Political Prisoners/Mumia Action Alerts
