Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Illinois), one of imprisoned American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier's biggest foes in Congress, announced his retirement on Monday.

Hyde, the current chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said it was time for him to go. He has served in the House for 21 years.

As former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Hyde worked with former FBI director Louis J. Freeh to oppose Peltier's bid for executive clemency. They wrote letters urging President Clinton and former U.S. attorney general Janet Reno not to release Peltier from prison. Freeh also organized an FBI protest to the White House.

Peltier is serving two life sentences for the murders of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in June 1975.

Get the Story:
U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde to Retire in 2006 (AP 4/19)
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Hyde Will Retire From Congress (The New York Times 4/19)
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Relevant Links:
Free Leonard Peltier - http://www.freepeltier.org

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