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JANUARY 22, 2001

Peter MacDonald, a former Navajo Code Talker who led the Navajo Nation during a time of prominence and turbulence, was released from federal prison on Saturday.

Bill Clinton commuted MacDonald's 14-year sentence on Saturday morning as one of his last official actions as President. In failing health, the 72-year-old MacDonald was released from a Fort Worth, Texas, medical prison later that afternoon.

The former leader of the largest tribe in the United States was sentenced in February 1993 on federal fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy charges. He was also convicted of inciting a riot at tribal headquarters in Window Rock, Arizona in July 1989 during which two of his supporters were shot and killed by tribal police.

At the time, MacDonald had been suspended by the tribal council who accused him of taking kickbacks and bribes. MacDonald's involvement in the purchase of the Big Boquillas Ranch in Arizona played a large part in the dispute, as the tribe paid $33.6 million for the 491,000-acre ranch only minutes after a group of California realtors purchased it for $26.2 million.

The incident led to a Senate investigation and it was eventually discovered that MacDonald received $25,000 to help pay a $70,000 personal loan he had taken out as well as a lease on used BMW automobile. But in a special agreement with federal prosecutors, one of the realtors testified against MacDonald and kept his $4 million profit from the deal.

The controversy left many in the tribe divided and at one point MacDonald apologized for his actions. In a 1997 letter from his Texas jail cell, he wrote: "I apologize for the hurt and heart-break you have gone through. My sorry and apology goes out to all who have suffered--victims, the Navajo Nation government, and the Navajo people."

But in recent years a Navajo-led campaign, supported by the tribal government, sought MacDonald's release. They were joined by politicians like President Jimmy Carter, Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.Mex), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.Mex), former Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) Representative Tom Udall (D-N.Mex), as well as state legislatures in New Mexico and Arizona.

Bingaman in recent months pushed Clinton to commute MacDonald's sentence. A decision was expected last month during the holidays but Clinton delayed his announcement until Saturday morning, along with 175 other pardons and commutations.

Three of MacDonald's co-defendants--Donald Benally, Earl Roy Lee, and Ned McKensley--were not on the list.

Relevant Links:
Free MacDonald - www.cyberport.com/~vlee
The Navajo Nation - www.navajo.org