Did Biden Kick the FBI on His Way Out — or Did Someone Else Have the Pen?

On January 19, 2025, President Joe Biden granted clemency to Leonard Peltier, who was convicted for his involvement in the murders of FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. This decision, made at the end of Biden’s presidency, surprised law enforcement and reopened old wounds within the FBI community. While the initial reaction was raw, time has brought a new perspective and raised troubling questions.

Peltier was found guilty in 1977 of participating in the ambush and killing of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Although he wasn’t acting alone, he was held responsible for firing the fatal shots from close range as the agents were defenseless and wounded.

In the following years, Peltier’s case became a symbol, not of innocence or guilt, but of a narrative. Activists portrayed him as a political prisoner, and public figures campaigned for his release, with even a documentary directed by Robert Redford. Despite this, his conviction was upheld by courts and four presidents over the years.

The sudden clemency raised questions about the timing and process behind Biden’s decision. The lack of a public explanation or communication with the FBI and the families of the slain agents left many feeling betrayed and questioning the accountability and transparency of the pardon process.

As a retired FBI Special Agent and founder of Reform the Bureau, Richard F. Stout, Jr. stressed the importance of trust, process, and accountability in ensuring that justice is upheld and law enforcement lives are not devalued. The decision to release a convicted FBI agent’s killer without new evidence or court intervention was seen as a disregard for the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and a reminder of the need for integrity and oversight in federal law enforcement.