In one of his final moves before leaving office, former President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. At 80 years old, Peltier will now serve the rest of his sentence at home. “It’s finally over – I’m going home,” Peltier said in a statement shared by the Indigenous rights group NDN Collective. He expressed a desire to live a peaceful life, saying, “I want to show the world I’m a good person with a good heart.” Peltier has spent nearly 50 years in federal prison after being denied parole last year. His case has long been a flashpoint in discussions about Indigenous rights and the criminal justice system. Biden’s decision, citing Peltier’s declining health and his leadership in the Native American community, has drawn both praise and criticism. The FBI Agents Association slammed the decision, calling it a “cruel betrayal” to the families of the slain agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. However, human rights and Indigenous advocacy groups celebrated the move, describing it as a step toward addressing systemic injustices. Peltier has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he did not fire the fatal shots during the 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The case has been mired in controversy, with supporters arguing his trial was unfair and evidence unreliable. Now, Peltier will return to his community in Turtle Mountain, where a home has been prepared for him. “Leonard has always wanted to live out the rest of his life at home,” said Kevin Sharp, one of his attorneys. “He will now get to do that.” The commutation has reignited debates over justice and reconciliation, marking a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights.