Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

January 30, 2025

Leonard Peltier's Conviction: Chinese and U.S. Search Platforms Respond Differently to Case


Leonard Peltier's Conviction: Chinese and U.S. Search Platforms Respond Differently to Case

Leonard Peltier's Conviction: Chinese and U.S. Search Platforms Respond Differently to the Case. The Responses Reveal a Flaw: The AI Platforms are Not Up to Date. 

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, January 30, 2025

Was Leonard Peltier unfairly convicted? The Chinese-owned DeepSeek, and the U.S. backed ChatGPT search platforms, responded differently when asked if Leonard Peltier was unfairly convicted of killing two FBI agents.

The responses show a major flaw in AI, artificial intelligence, search platforms. They are not current. Both search platforms failed to show Peltier was granted clemency last week by President Biden, with a release date of February 18, 2025.

The conclusions in Peltier's case are different. The Chinese platform concludes, "Peltier’s case exemplifies deep flaws in the U.S. justice system’s handling of Indigenous activists."

The U.S. platform ends by saying a phrase it uses often, placing it on the shelf of "one's perspective."

"Ultimately, whether Peltier was unfairly convicted depends largely on one's perspective of the evidence and the history of the case," U.S. owned ChatCPT said.

Mohawk Mother Kahentinetha said, "The solicitor general of Canada at the time, Warren Allmand, sent Peltier back to the US on false evidence provided by the FBI."

"When he learned it was false he worked to return him to Canada. His son married my brother's daughter, Wendiiosta, and they have one daughter, which is Allmand's only grandchild. I met him at a social gathering and asked him what he was doing to get Peltier out. He told me he knew he was innocent and was doing all he could to help his case. He is now dead," Kahentinetha told Censored News today.

Meanwhile, the Chinese start-up DeepSeek caused the largest value loss in stock market history on Monday, when it showed it could do what the U.S. owned ChatGPT does, for a fraction of the cost. The energy guzzling U.S. company needs massive amounts of electricity to run its data centers. The DeepSeek startup relied on Chinese university students.

Even with the dumpster dive at the stock market, the U.S. company ChatGPT, backed by billionaires, was given a luscious contract to provide its service to U.S. government agencies on Tuesday. It's all about the money.

This week, a mother said her son was murdered after he exposed that the AI, artificial intelligence, industry is violating U.S. copyrights.  Suchir Balaji, 26, a brilliant software engineer worked for OpenAl, owner of the new ChatGPT. The whistleblower was found dead in San Francisco in November after being interviewed by the New York Times.

The AI, artificial intelligence, platforms are in the business of answering questions using other peoples data.

Here are the two responses to Peltier's conviction:

Was Leonard Peltier unfairly convicted of murdering two FBI agents


China's DeepSeek, Thought for 33 seconds

Okay, so I need to figure out whether Leonard Peltier was unfairly convicted of murdering two FBI agents. Let me start by recalling what I know about this case. Peltier is a Native American activist, part of the American Indian Movement (AIM), right? The incident happened in the 1970s on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. There was a shootout between AIM members and the FBI, resulting in the deaths of two agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. Peltier was convicted and has been in prison for a long time, with many people claiming his conviction was unjust.

First, I should check the basic facts of the case. The shootout occurred on June 26, 1975, during a period of high tension on the reservation. The FBI went there to arrest someone, and a confrontation ensued. Peltier was charged with the murders, extradited from Canada, and tried. The prosecution's case relied on ballistics evidence linking a rifle to Peltier, but there were issues with that evidence. Also, there were allegations of coerced witnesses and withheld evidence.

I remember reading that the main witness against Peltier, Myrtle Poor Bear, later recanted her testimony, saying she was coerced by the FBI. That's a big deal because her testimony was used to extradite him from Canada. If her statements were false, that undermines the legitimacy of the extradition and possibly the trial.

Another point is the ballistics evidence. The prosecution claimed that shell casings found at the scene matched Peltier's rifle, but later it was argued that the FBI's ballistics tests were inconclusive. There was also a claim that the FBI didn't disclose evidence that could have helped Peltier's defense, like conflicting ballistics reports or other suspects.

The defense argued that Peltier wasn't the one who fired the fatal shots. They suggested that the agents were killed in the crossfire during a chaotic situation, and that Peltier was being scapegoated because of his activism. The government's case was seen by some as politically motivated, aiming to suppress AIM and its activities.

There's also the issue of the trial venue. Peltier was tried in Fargo, North Dakota, which has a predominantly white population, and there were concerns about whether he could get a fair trial there. The jury was all-white, which might have influenced the outcome, especially given the racial tensions of the time.

Additionally, after the trial, documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act showed that the FBI had withheld evidence, including potentially exculpatory ballistics reports. This led to appeals and calls for a new trial, but those were denied. Prominent figures, including Amnesty International, have labeled Peltier as a political prisoner, arguing that his trial was unfair.

However, the counterarguments would be that Peltier was present at the scene and participated in the shootout. Even if he didn't fire the fatal shots, under the law, he could be held responsible for the deaths if he was part of the group that committed the act. The prosecution maintained that there was sufficient evidence to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Also, some of the evidence issues might be standard legal disputes rather than clear misconduct. While the defense points to withheld evidence, the prosecution might argue that it wasn't material to the case or that it was handled appropriately.

In summary, the main points of contention are the reliability of witness testimony, the handling of ballistics evidence, possible FBI misconduct in withholding evidence, the fairness of the trial venue and jury, and the political context of the case. Supporters of Peltier argue that these factors combined to make his conviction unfair, while opponents believe the conviction was justified based on the evidence presented at trial.

Leonard Peltier's conviction for the 1975 murders of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams remains highly controversial, with significant arguments suggesting unfairness in his trial. Here's a structured summary of the key points:

Key Issues Supporting Claims of Unfairness:

  1. Coerced Witness Testimony:

    • Myrtle Poor Bear, a key witness, later recanted her testimony, claiming the FBI coerced her into falsely implicating Peltier. Her statements were critical to his extradition from Canada and trial, undermining the case's integrity.

  2. Ballistics Evidence Controversy:

    • The prosecution linked shell casings to Peltier’s rifle, but later analyses raised doubts. The FBI allegedly withheld exculpatory ballistics reports and failed to conclusively prove the casings matched his weapon, casting doubt on the evidence’s reliability.

  3. Withheld Evidence and FBI Misconduct:

    • FOIA-released documents revealed the FBI suppressed evidence, including alternative suspects and conflicting reports. This violated due process by denying the defense access to potentially exculpatory material.

  4. Trial Venue and Jury Composition:

    • Peltier was tried in Fargo, North Dakota, before an all-white jury in a racially charged climate. Critics argue this environment, combined with pervasive anti-AIM sentiment, prejudiced the proceedings.

  5. Political Context:

    • AIM’s activism and clashes with authorities during the 1970s (e.g., Wounded Knee) created a backdrop of systemic bias. Many view Peltier’s prosecution as part of a broader effort to suppress Indigenous rights movements.

Counterarguments Upholding the Conviction:

  1. Peltier’s Presence at the Scene:

    • Peltier admitted to being at the shootout. Under federal felony murder rules, participation in a conflict resulting in death can warrant liability, even without firing the fatal shots.

  2. Evidence Sufficiency:

    • Prosecutors maintain that sufficient evidence (including circumstantial ballistics and witness accounts) supported the jury’s guilty verdict beyond a reasonable doubt.

  3. Legal Process Defenses:

    • While procedural flaws are alleged, courts have repeatedly upheld the conviction. Appeals judges acknowledged investigative misconduct but found it insufficient to overturn the verdict.

International Attention and Advocacy:

  • Organizations like Amnesty International have deemed Peltier a political prisoner, advocating for clemency. High-profile figures, including Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, have called for his release, citing systemic injustice.

Conclusion:

Peltier’s case exemplifies deep flaws in the U.S. justice system’s handling of Indigenous activists. While legal technicalities sustain his conviction, the coerced testimony, withheld evidence, and political context strongly suggest an unfair trial. Despite ongoing campaigns, Peltier remains incarcerated, symbolizing enduring tensions between law enforcement and Indigenous rights movements. His continued imprisonment fuels debates over justice, accountability, and historical reconciliation.


Was Leonard Peltier unfairly convicted of killing two FBI agents
U.S. ChatGPT said:
The case of Leonard Peltier is highly controversial and has sparked debate for decades. Peltier, a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was convicted in 1977 for the murders of two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in 1975.

Many supporters of Peltier, including human rights organizations, legal experts, and activists, argue that his conviction was unfair and that he did not receive a fair trial. Some of the key points in their arguments include:

  1. Questionable Evidence and Prosecutorial Misconduct: Peltier's defense has consistently pointed to the lack of physical evidence directly linking him to the murders, as well as allegations of mishandling of evidence, withholding of exculpatory evidence by the prosecution, and biased FBI involvement.

  2. Coercion of Witnesses: It's been claimed that witnesses were coerced or intimidated into providing testimony against Peltier. One key witness later recanted, saying they had been pressured by authorities to testify against him.

  3. Failure to Prove Peltier's Guilt: Supporters argue that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Peltier was the shooter. The prosecution's case relied heavily on ballistics evidence that was later questioned, as well as witness statements that were inconsistent.

  4. International Support for Peltier: Numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have advocated for his release, stating that his trial was flawed and that his continued imprisonment constitutes a violation of international human rights standards.

On the other hand, the FBI and others involved in the case maintain that Peltier was fairly convicted based on the evidence presented at trial, and that the shootout was part of an orchestrated attack on federal agents by AIM members.

While Peltier's supporters argue that he was a political prisoner, others believe that his conviction was a necessary legal outcome. The case remains a focal point in debates about Native American rights, federal authority, and the fairness of the U.S. legal system. As of now, Peltier has spent more than 40 years in prison, and there have been multiple appeals for his release or for a new trial, though none have been successful.

Ultimately, whether Peltier was unfairly convicted depends largely on one's perspective of the evidence and the history of the case.


Previously at Censored News

Rival Chinese and U.S. search platforms respond to controversial questions from Indian country

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/01/rival-chinese-and-us-companies-respond.html

China's DeepSeek confirms U.S. boarding schools were genocide, U.S. rival isn't sure

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/01/chinas-deepseek-confirms-us-boarding.html


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