IIA

Calendar No. 274

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 33

Deploring the actions of President Clinton regarding granting clemency to

FALN terrorists.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 8, 1999

Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. BROWNBACK, and Mr. HAGEL)

introduced the following joint resolution; which was read the first time

SEPTEMBER 9, 1999

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

JOINT RESOLUTION

Deploring the actions of President Clinton regarding

granting clemency to FALN terrorists.

Whereas the Armed Forces of National Liberation (the

FALN) is a militant terrorist organization that claims responsibility for the bombings of approximately 130 civilian, political, and military sites throughout the United

States;

Whereas its reign of terror resulted in 6 deaths and the permanent maiming of dozens of others, including law enforcement officials;
2

SJ 33 PCS

Whereas 16 members of the FALN were tried for numerous

felonies against the United States, including seditions

conspiracy;

Whereas at their trials, none of the 16 defendants contested

any of the evidence presented by the United States;

Whereas at their trials none expressed remorse for their actions;

Whereas all were subsequently convicted and sentenced to

prison for terms up to 90 years;

Whereas not a single act of terrorism has been attributed to

the FALN since the imprisonment of 16 terrorists;

Whereas no petitions for clemency were made by these terrorists, but other persons, in an irregular procedure, sought

such clemency for them;

Whereas on August 11, 1999, President William Jefferson

Clinton offered clemency to these 16 terrorists, all of

whom have served less than 20 years in prison;

Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal

Bureau of Prisons, and 2 United States Attorneys all reportedly advised the President not to grant leniency to

the 16 terrorists;

Whereas the Federal Bureau of Prisons reportedly based its

decision in part on the existence of audio recordings indicating that some of the 16 have vowed to resume their

violent activities upon release from prison;

Whereas the State Department in 1998 reiterated two longstanding tenants of counter terrorism policy that the

United States will: ‘‘(1) make no concessions to terrorists

and strike no deals; and (2) bring terrorists to justice for

their crimes’’;
3

SJ 33 PCS

Whereas the President’s offer of clemency to the FALN terrorists violates longstanding tenants of United States

counter terrorism policy;

Whereas the President’s decision sends an unmistakable message to terrorists that the United States does not punish

terrorists in the most severe manner possible under the

law, making terrorism more likely and endangering to

every American; and

Whereas the release of terrorists is an affront to the rule of

law, the victims and their families, and every American

who believes that violent acts must be punished to the

fullest extent of the law: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That President Clinton should not have granted clemency

4 to the FALN terrorists and that in doing so he has made

5 deplorable concessions to terrorists, undermined national

6 security, and emboldened domestic and international ter7 rorists.

Calendar No. 274

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 33

JOINT RESOLUTION

Deploring the actions of President Clinton

regarding granting clemency to FALN terrorists.

SEPTEMBER 9, 1999

Read the second time and placed on the calendar