Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, was convicted in 1977 for the murder of two FBI agents, a case that has stirred significant controversy. His extradition from Canada to the U.S. relied heavily on the testimony of Myrtle Poor Bear, who was later deemed mentally unstable and unfit to testify.
Doubts and concerns surrounding the trial include the lack of eyewitnesses to the agents’ deaths, uncertainty about the murder weapon, questions about the vehicle identification that led the agents to the scene, and the FBI’s admission of withholding thousands of relevant documents. Supporters have long argued judicial errors occurred, evidence was fabricated, favorable evidence was suppressed, and witnesses were coerced. These irregularities led many to consider Peltier a political prisoner.