A letter signed by 34 Democratic lawmakers urges President Biden to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist imprisoned for nearly 50 years. The letter highlights Peltier’s declining health and the flawed nature of his trial, citing coerced witnesses and suppressed evidence. Lawmakers emphasize this action aligns with the administration’s commitment to addressing past injustices against Native Americans. Recent presidential actions granting clemency and pardons fuel optimism for Peltier’s release.
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President Biden issued a full pardon for his son, Hunter, citing selective and unfair prosecution driven by political motivations. The pardon covers felony tax offenses and gun-related charges stemming from investigations the President believes were instigated by political opponents. Biden asserts that Hunter was targeted solely due to his familial connection, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. He emphasizes his belief in the justice system while acknowledging the influence of raw politics on the case. The President hopes Americans will understand his decision.
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Michael Sullivan, wrongly convicted of the 1986 murder of Wilfred McGrath, was awarded $13 million in damages after a jury determined his innocence. However, a state law limits such payouts to $1 million, the amount Sullivan will ultimately receive. Sullivan’s conviction stemmed from false testimony and fabricated evidence, including a state police chemist’s false report of incriminating physical evidence. Despite the reduced compensation, Sullivan’s exoneration after 26 years in prison is his primary focus.
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The recent decision by a judge to decline reconsideration of criminal charges against Alec Baldwin in the tragic ‘Rust’ shooting incident has left me with a torrent of emotions and thoughts. This case has, from the beginning, been riddled with complexity and significant errors on the part of the prosecution. It strikes me as indicative of a system veering dangerously into the territory of the sensationalized, rather than focusing on the essence of justice.
What has been most astonishing throughout this ordeal is how the investigators and prosecutors appear to have mismanaged the process at nearly every turn. The revelation that crucial evidence was withheld speaks to a profound irresponsibility that undermines the very foundations of a just legal system.… Continue reading
When I first came across the news that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to review the ruling on the death of a woman who was found with 20 stab wounds, my immediate thought was, “How is it even possible for someone to commit suicide by inflicting such severe wounds on themselves?” The case of Ellen Greenberg, a first-grade teacher who tragically lost her life in 2011, is beyond comprehension. The fact that the medical examiner initially ruled her death as a homicide, only to switch the ruling to suicide without a valid explanation, is absolutely mind-boggling.
I mean, let’s think about it for a moment.… Continue reading
As I sit here reflecting on the recent news about the Missouri Supreme Court blocking the release of a man whose conviction was overturned after more than 30 years in prison, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of outrage and despair. The fact that this man, who has been declared innocent by two judges, is still being held behind bars is a clear miscarriage of justice. It begs the question: what legal argument could possibly justify keeping an innocent man imprisoned without a conviction?
The Attorney General of Missouri, Andrew Bailey, seems to have a personal vendetta against this man.… Continue reading
Sandra Hemme, a woman who served 43 years in prison for a crime she did not commit, was finally freed after a judge overturned her murder conviction. The judge ruled that Hemme’s attorneys had presented “clear and convincing evidence” of her innocence, yet Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey fought against her release in court. It is appalling to think that a woman had to spend over four decades behind bars for a crime she did not commit, only to face further resistance from the Attorney General’s office in gaining her freedom.
Hemme was heavily sedated and in a vulnerable mental state when investigators coerced a confession out of her in a psychiatric hospital.… Continue reading
This story of Marvin Grimm, who spent 45 years in a Virginia prison for a crime he did not commit, is a chilling reminder of the flaws in our justice system. The fact that false confessions are more common than we think is a terrifying reality that we cannot ignore. It is heartbreaking to think that in a single moment, a life can be turned upside down by the actions of a single individual.
The sheer injustice of someone being wrongfully imprisoned for almost five decades is incomprehensible. To have your freedom stripped away, to miss out on important life moments, to be labeled a criminal when you are innocent – these are repercussions that no amount of money or apologies can fully remedy.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker