March opposes pardon for Peltier FBI agents conduct protest

WASHINGTON Nearly 500 current and retired FBI agents marched tothe White House Friday in an unprecedented protest, opposing anypresidential clemency for an American Indian activist convicted ofkilling two FBI men.

Carrying a "Never Forget" banner lettered in red, a line of womenstood two-by-two for the march to the White House gate with apetition to President Clinton signed by 8,000 current and formeragents.

Secret Service agents at the White House gate rejected theenvelope, however, telling their fellow federal officers that nopackages or documents can be accepted for security reasons. The FBIagents planned to mail the petition.

Susan Lloyd, an FBI field office spokeswoman who joined theprotesters, said the vast majority of those in the demonstration wereactive agents who applied for the day off.

"None of this is on government time," she said.

The protest supported FBI Director Louis Freeh's recommendationagainst clemency for Leonard Peltier, who is serving two consecutivelife sentences in the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan. Freeh toldClinton such an act would "signal disrespect" for law enforcement.

"There are situations in which mercy is warranted, but clearlywhat this man has done puts him outside of the reach of anypresidential pardon," said John Sennett, president of the FBI AgentsAssociation, which has about 9,000 active and 1,000 retired members.Sennett, interviewed at the scene, is an FBI agent based in New York.

"FBI employees, like other federal workers and citizens, have theright to express their views on issues they feel passionately about,"said bureau spokesman Mike Kortan at FBI headquarters, adding thatthe demonstrators were on their own time.

A handful of Peltier supporters shouted at the orderly line ofofficers as they passed. "Peltier is a political prisoner," said aman who identified himself as P.J. Smith of Washington.

The White House has refused comment on all questions aboutpossible pardons. A White House spokesman said Clinton would reviewpending requests for executive clemency before he leaves office inJanuary, including that of Peltier.

Peltier, 56, is serving his terms at the U.S. Penitentiary inLeavenworth, Kan. He has suffered from health problems in recentyears.