March-11-09: Jan Susler on Holder and the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners
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From: National Institute for Latino Policy ...
To: National Institute for Latino Policy ...
Sent: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 7:05 am
Subject: NiLP Guest Commentary:: Jan Susler on Holder and the Political Prisoners
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Note: From time to time we will publish commentaries by guest writers. Please note that the opinions presented in this essay are not necessarily shared by the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP).
Eric Holder and the
Puerto Rican political prisoners
By Jan Susler (February 28, 2009)
See full size imageThe Puerto Rican political prisoners figured prominently in the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Eric Holder. President Obama’s choice for U.S. Attorney General. Holder had served as the number two man in the Department of Justice in the Clinton administration when Clinton granted two sets of pardons— in September of 1999, to Puerto Rican political prisoners, and in January of 2001, to fugitive financier Marc Rich,— which turned out to be controversial for very different reasons, and for which Mr. Holder was called upon to answer.
From the very moment President Obama named Eric Holder as Attorney General, the Right gave notice that Mr. Holder would bear the brunt of its wrath over the Republican defeat at the polls, and that these pardons would be their focus.
News that Mr. Obama would defend Holder’s role in the Puerto Rico clemency foreshadowed what the nominee would say at the hearings. Grilled first about the Rich pardon, Mr. Holder humbly accepted that he had made a mistake. However, when pressed to say that the clemency of the Puerto Rican political prisoners was also a mistake, he refused to disown responsibility and refused to concede to pressure to say it was a mistake. Instead, Holder defended the decision to grant clemency as “reasonable.” He listed the broad support for their release, including Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Coretta Scott King, President Carter, and Desmond Tutu. He noted that they had not committed any acts resulting in death or bodily injury, and he mentioned the significant amount of time they had served in prison. Interestingly, he did not mention the productive, successful lives being lived by the women and men released in 1999.
From Puerto Rico, support for Holder’s confirmation was universal. In a letter to the House and Senate leadership, the newly elected Republican pro statehood governor assured that Holder’s support for the release of the political prisoners should not impede his confirmation, noting that not only were they not convicted of harming anyone or taking a life, but that they had already served lengthy terms in prison. The letter also referred to the support in 1999 from broad sectors in the Island, including former governor and founder of his own pro statehood party, Don Luis A. Ferré.
Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s new resident commissioner in Washington, followed the governor’s lead. Responding to the criticism of Holder’s role in the release of the political prisoners, Pierluisi offered, “I have never been against that decision,” adding, “I think that (in the process of the clemencies) Holder exercised his discretion in a reasonable way.”
The Senate of Puerto Rico passed a resolution supporting the confirmation of Mr. Holder, stating, in pertinent part:
As Deputy Attorney General, he was assigned to evaluate the topic of clemency for sixteen Puerto Rican prisoners, members of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), convicted and imprisoned during the 70's and the early 80's in the United States, under sedition statutes. This movement for clemency was supported by numerous distinguished public figures in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other countries, including clergy, community organizations, and members of Congress, among others. Many of these former political prisoners live in Puerto Rico. Among them is Elizam Escobar, a painter who, since his release, has made significant contributions to the Puerto Rican arts.
Other support was also forthcoming from Puerto Rico, including from pro statehood senator Kenneth McClintock, who spoke as National Committeman of the Democratic Party, echoing the sentiments of the governor.
With this support, as well as support from the leadership of virtually every law enforcement organization and even the senator who had led the opposition to his confirmation, Mr. Holder was confirmed.
Veteran independentista leader Juan Mari Bras, expressing optimism that Holder would be confirmed, stated, “We are hopeful [...] that he can finish the work he started with the Puerto Rican prisoners, releasing those who are still in prison.” n
For further information:
Jan Susler
People's Law Office
1180 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60642
773/235-0070 x 118
...
National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP)
101 Avenue of the Americas | New York, NY 10013
800-590-2516 | Fax: 917-677-8593
www.latinopolicy.org | ...
To make a tax-deductible donation to NiLP, click here.
To get on our mailing list to receive the Latino Policy eNewsletter, click here
[Image Removed]
From: National Institute for Latino Policy ...
To: National Institute for Latino Policy ...
Sent: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 7:05 am
Subject: NiLP Guest Commentary:: Jan Susler on Holder and the Political Prisoners
NiLP Guest Commentary.jpg
Note: From time to time we will publish commentaries by guest writers. Please note that the opinions presented in this essay are not necessarily shared by the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP).
Eric Holder and the
Puerto Rican political prisoners
By Jan Susler (February 28, 2009)
See full size imageThe Puerto Rican political prisoners figured prominently in the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Eric Holder. President Obama’s choice for U.S. Attorney General. Holder had served as the number two man in the Department of Justice in the Clinton administration when Clinton granted two sets of pardons— in September of 1999, to Puerto Rican political prisoners, and in January of 2001, to fugitive financier Marc Rich,— which turned out to be controversial for very different reasons, and for which Mr. Holder was called upon to answer.
From the very moment President Obama named Eric Holder as Attorney General, the Right gave notice that Mr. Holder would bear the brunt of its wrath over the Republican defeat at the polls, and that these pardons would be their focus.
News that Mr. Obama would defend Holder’s role in the Puerto Rico clemency foreshadowed what the nominee would say at the hearings. Grilled first about the Rich pardon, Mr. Holder humbly accepted that he had made a mistake. However, when pressed to say that the clemency of the Puerto Rican political prisoners was also a mistake, he refused to disown responsibility and refused to concede to pressure to say it was a mistake. Instead, Holder defended the decision to grant clemency as “reasonable.” He listed the broad support for their release, including Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Coretta Scott King, President Carter, and Desmond Tutu. He noted that they had not committed any acts resulting in death or bodily injury, and he mentioned the significant amount of time they had served in prison. Interestingly, he did not mention the productive, successful lives being lived by the women and men released in 1999.
From Puerto Rico, support for Holder’s confirmation was universal. In a letter to the House and Senate leadership, the newly elected Republican pro statehood governor assured that Holder’s support for the release of the political prisoners should not impede his confirmation, noting that not only were they not convicted of harming anyone or taking a life, but that they had already served lengthy terms in prison. The letter also referred to the support in 1999 from broad sectors in the Island, including former governor and founder of his own pro statehood party, Don Luis A. Ferré.
Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s new resident commissioner in Washington, followed the governor’s lead. Responding to the criticism of Holder’s role in the release of the political prisoners, Pierluisi offered, “I have never been against that decision,” adding, “I think that (in the process of the clemencies) Holder exercised his discretion in a reasonable way.”
The Senate of Puerto Rico passed a resolution supporting the confirmation of Mr. Holder, stating, in pertinent part:
As Deputy Attorney General, he was assigned to evaluate the topic of clemency for sixteen Puerto Rican prisoners, members of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), convicted and imprisoned during the 70's and the early 80's in the United States, under sedition statutes. This movement for clemency was supported by numerous distinguished public figures in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other countries, including clergy, community organizations, and members of Congress, among others. Many of these former political prisoners live in Puerto Rico. Among them is Elizam Escobar, a painter who, since his release, has made significant contributions to the Puerto Rican arts.
Other support was also forthcoming from Puerto Rico, including from pro statehood senator Kenneth McClintock, who spoke as National Committeman of the Democratic Party, echoing the sentiments of the governor.
With this support, as well as support from the leadership of virtually every law enforcement organization and even the senator who had led the opposition to his confirmation, Mr. Holder was confirmed.
Veteran independentista leader Juan Mari Bras, expressing optimism that Holder would be confirmed, stated, “We are hopeful [...] that he can finish the work he started with the Puerto Rican prisoners, releasing those who are still in prison.” n
For further information:
Jan Susler
People's Law Office
1180 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60642
773/235-0070 x 118
...
National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP)
101 Avenue of the Americas | New York, NY 10013
800-590-2516 | Fax: 917-677-8593
www.latinopolicy.org | ...
To make a tax-deductible donation to NiLP, click here.
To get on our mailing list to receive the Latino Policy eNewsletter, click here
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