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MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2002

An attorney for imprisoned activist Leonard Peltier will argue today before the Supreme Court on the federal government's alleged coverup regarding the death of her husband.

Jennifer Harbury, an activist and critic of U.S. policy in Latin America, sought information from the State Department about her husband Efrain Bamaca Velasquez, a rebel leader from Guatemala. Initially, government officials denied knowledge and at one point said Velasquez committed suicide.

Harbury later learned her husband was still alive and being tortured through a 60 Minutes report, which the government confirmed as accurate. Velasquez, however, then died in the custody of the Guatemalan army colonel who was paid informant of the CIA.

Harbury filed suit as a result but a federal judge dismissed it. An appeals court reinstated parts of the suit, leading the State Department to seek review by the Supreme Court.

Get the Story:
Slain Rebel's Wife to Plead Case Before High Court (The Washington Post 3/21)

Get the Case:
Harbury v. Deutch A (DC Court of Appeals, December 12, 2000)
Harbury v. Deutch B (DC Court of Appeals, January 5, 2001)
Harbury v. Deutch C (DC Court of Appeals, January 5, 2001)
Harbury v. Deutch D (DC Court of Appeals, April 6, 2001)
Harbury v. Deutch E (DC Court of Appeals, April 6, 2001)

Related Stories:
Peltier lawyer's case accepted (12/11)