Upon his release, Peltier expressed joy, stating, 'Today I am finally free!' and emphasized that his spirit was never broken despite his incarceration.

The trial was marred by significant misconduct, including witness coercion and the exclusion of key evidence that could have supported Peltier's defense.

Peltier, now 80 years old and in poor health, will spend the rest of his life in home confinement in his tribal homeland in North Dakota.

His son expressed gratitude for Biden's intervention, stating it corrected an injustice and highlighted the emotional impact on their family.

Nick Tilsen, an advocate for Peltier's release, hopes that his return will shed light on the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.

Critics, including the families of the slain agents, have expressed outrage over Peltier's release, insisting he has never shown remorse for his actions.

Peltier's release has sparked renewed discussions about the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the judicial system's fairness.

A welcoming ceremony in Belcourt, North Dakota, is planned to celebrate Peltier's return, expected to draw hundreds of attendees.

Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist, has been released from a Florida prison after former President Joe Biden commuted his life sentence for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.

Peltier has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he did not shoot the agents and asserting that his defense was compromised by withheld evidence and coerced testimony.

Despite being denied parole in July 2024, Peltier's release has been celebrated by human rights advocates who raise concerns about the fairness of his trial and his lengthy imprisonment.

Peltier's lead attorney noted that he would receive medical care for various ailments after nearly 50 years of alleged medical negligence in prison.