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The Unrepentant Terrorist: An Update
January 11, 2011 | 17 comments
Special Report
The Unrepentant Terrorist
Oscar Lopez-Rivera was offered clemency by Bill Clinton but refused to show remorse. Now he’s up for parole.
Oscar Lopez-Rivera was one of the leaders and founders of the fringe Puerto Rican nationalist domestic terrorist group known as the FALN (Armed Forces of National Liberation). In a highly controversial move in August of 1999, Bill Clinton offered clemency to 12 members of that group (including Lopez), along with four other members of their closely allied group the Macheteros (machete-wielders), who were based primarily on the island nation.
The 11 other members of the FALN finally accepted the conditions of the clemency a month later by expressing remorse (in a move that was engineered by then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder). However, in a surprising move, Lopez refused the offer. This was even after he had made two previous escape attempts (the sentence added for the second attempt would have delayed his immediate release).
Lopez had been sentenced to 70 years for seditious conspiracy and a variety of weapons charges as well as the second thwarted escape attempt (which included plans for the use of violence).
However, he is now attempting to gain his freedom, and a parole hearing is set for January 5th. It may be instructive to understand more about who Oscar Lopez is, and why an early release is not only an insult to the victims of the FALN, but an affront to justice and quite literally an act of madness.
OSCAR LOPEZ HAD FIRST MET Carlos Torres in Chicago in 1972, and before long the two had forged a bond that led them to become leaders of the fledgling Puerto Rican terrorist group, the FALN. The first bombings began in 1974, and the group’s most noted early action was the bombing of the historic Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan in January of 1975. The lunchtime bombing killed four diners and injured 60.
The bombings continued at a furious pace including targets in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Newark and Miami. Attacks were sometimes co-ordinated with the Macheteros, with that group setting off bombs at various locations in Puerto Rico.
In 1977, a warrant was issued for Oscar Lopez on charges of dealing with and the possession and storage of explosives. That same year, both Torres and Lopez were indicted in Chicago for the receiving of 200 sticks of dynamite from Colorado and concealing them at their Chicago apartment.
On April 4, 1980, a major break for authorities came when 11 FALN members were arrested in Evanston, Illinois, while preparing to rob an armored truck. They included Torres and his wife Marie, new FALN recruit Alfredo Mendez, and Ida Rodriguez, the wife of Oscar Lopez. Carlos Torres later told an interviewer that upon his arrest, “prison was not a deterrent to us.… I was angry because I realized that I was going to be in jail for a very long time.”
Documents discovered after the arrest led to a raid three days later of a house in Milwaukee that was rented by Oscar Lopez and Ida Rodriguez. The residence was loaded with bomb-making material, and authorities thought that they had just missed capturing Lopez. The next day, authorities searched an apartment in Jersey City, N.J., that was rented by Carlos Torres and found even more bomb-making material.
It should also be noted that bombings in the Chicago area immediately ceased after the Evanston arrests. There had been 29 bombings and 10 people had been injured, some of them grievously.
After the conviction of his ten compatriots in Chicago, the remaining at-large members of the FALN began to reconstitute under the leadership of Lopez. One of them was Alejandrina Torres, the stepmother of Carlos Torres. In May of 1981, however, Lopez was arrested after being stopped for making an illegal left-turn. The next day, FBI agents discovered bomb-making material in a Chicago apartment rented by Lopez.
At the opening of his trial, Lopez stated that, “this is not a trial, it’s a kangaroo court.” FALN member Alfredo Mendez, who had since started co-operating with the government, testified at length about Lopez. Mendez stated that Lopez taught him how to make a bomb using dynamite, convert a battery and a wrist watch into timed bombing-detonation devices and how to make gun silencers.
Mendez added that Lopez told him that “everybody in the organization has to know how to make bombs… in case they have to survive and keep the organization alive.”
After his conviction, Lopez addressed Judge McMillen prior to his sentencing. “I am an enemy of the United States government.” Lopez also added, “I show respect for human beings but I don’t think it is reciprocated.” Judge McMillen called Lopez “an incorrigible law violator,” and then sentenced him to 55 years in prison.
By 1983, the few at-large members began plotting to break Lopez out of Leavenworth, including Edwin Cortes and Alejandrina Torres. On March 8, the two were captured on FBI surveillance tape at their rented Chicago apartment making bombs.
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Henry| 12.22.10 @ 6:52AM
Terrorism should carry a mandatory death-sentence, to be carried out as quickly as possible to minimise the possibility of rescue attempts.
SonOfSam| 12.22.10 @ 8:19AM
I agree with you Henry, 110%. Every terrorist in Gitmo should be shot, TODAY. Likewise for all the killers on death row. Doing that would give us enough room in the prisons for the criminals currently infesting Washington DC.
NavyBrat | 12.22.10 @ 9:35AM
I'm with you guys. Give this a$$hat Anicin Headache # .357 & be done with it. Would we let a Hezbollah bomber go? I would sure as hell hope not. But then again, our current AG wrote out these pardons for these muderers. So I guess we shouldn't be surprised if this schmuck gets his early release. I also wouldn't be suprised if he got run over by a truck soon after, either.
vigilant| 12.22.10 @ 5:01PM
Your suggestion sounds prudent, until you realize that they now consider you & me, indeed all of us, as terrorists. Perhaps we should reconsider giving them the rope to hang us with.
Louis Jenkins| 12.22.10 @ 8:09AM
Let the man twist and turn in wind. If he gets out on parole it will be a sham on the government.
Joe Connor| 12.22.10 @ 9:24AM
Ron, a masterful piece. Thank you. Somewhere my dad, Frank Connor, who was killed by these thugs, thanks you too.
Joe
Lopez
http://bigpeace.com/jfconnor/2.....g-release/
And a piece I wrote on co founder Carlos Torres on his release.
Torres
http://bigpeace.com/jfconnor/2.....jailbreak/
L. Stern| 1.4.11 @ 11:57AM
Joe -
We heard you on the radio today and wish you the best. This is an outrage.
The article has been posted on the In Session Message Boards under "Politics"
http://boards.insessiontrials.com
Jason| 1.5.11 @ 3:52PM
Well, you got what you wanted. Oscar was denied parole.
Anthony| 12.22.10 @ 10:00AM
Si, Senor Lopez es un muy mal hombre!!! Comprende!!! Los Macheteros made quite a stir in Connecticut, those many years ago.
This one may be close, as Senor Lopez has proclaimed his continued hatred for America, this should hold him in good standing with the parole board.
However, Senor Lopez may have lost a few allies along the way. The former reprobate-in-chief, Bill Clinton, no longer has a need to buy Puerto Rican votes for Madam Hillary, as she has abandoned both NY and (hopefully) a presidential run. Count Slick Willie out, as Lopez no longer has any value to the cigar man.
Then we have Mr. Holder, no doubt his sympathies remain strong for all good America haters. However, this dirt ball is a bit more visible than in the past, being that he is now A.G., so if Holder gets his grubby hands on this, it will be at the behest of Obozo himself.
Hopefully, if Lopez pulls this off, we can have congressional hearings and have Holder testify under oath.
With any luck, Lopez, Holder, Obozo, and a host of congressional Ds, will find their way to GITMO, one way.
Mr. Conner, may you find peace this Christmas season.
Kevin Riley O'Keeffe | 12.28.10 @ 1:23AM
Why shouldn't he hate America? We conquered his country 110 years ago, and Puerto Rican patriots would naturally like to have it back. Sure, the Puerto Rican people vote in referendums to remain part of the USA (although they've never been given a chance to vote on a straight up/down proposal on whether to remain affiliated with the USA), but "our" Federal government effectively uses the public treasury to bribe Puerto Ricans to vote that way. If there'd been a referendum held in the Thirteen Colonies in 1776, there isn't any reputable historian who believes a majority would have voted for secession from the British Empire. Sometimes the people need leaders to take them in the right direction, because on their own they'll take the coward's route of comfort & security in matters that are simply too important to allow for their foolishness to interfere with the common good. This guy may be much of a leader, but at least he's got the right idea ie., that his nation shouldn't just be a part of our nation.
Albert| 12.22.10 @ 10:49AM
That this piece of human filth should even be considered for parole is outrageous. That Bill Clinton granted clemency to his FALN cohorts in 1999 shows Clinton's true colors and true loyalties. But this has been the pattern of Democrat politicians for decades. Every time people vote for Democrats they are voting to release criminals and terrorists, to confiscate wealth, and to persecute innocent people, all for personal political gain. Will America ever wake up to this brazen corruption?
hunter| 12.22.10 @ 11:09AM
The 70 year term rivera was sentenced to should have been a death sentence, in other words he would not live long enough to serve the 70 years. So, he should have been executed shortly after sentenceing. The fact that he wasn't is that a harsh sentence was placed upon the American people. The est. cost of keeping someone in prison is around $40,000. plus/minus. Take that times a few million prisoners with the same age/sentence ratio and the taxpayer is saddled with a huge burden. This money would have been better spent. Now who is the prisoner?
Steve A| 12.22.10 @ 11:30AM
I have to tell you. The thing that irritates me the most about this entire saga is the fact that whether or not the terrorist displayed remorse or not is even mentioned, as it is several times above.
OK, fine, you set off some random explosives, get caught & say you are sorry. Great. I just "feel" sooooo much better about it now. You can express all the remorse you want, or not. I could care less. It makes absolutely ZERO difference. Strap them in the chair, throw the switch & broadcast it.
Bulgaricus| 12.22.10 @ 11:42AM
This piece of human crap should have been executed years ago!
carol| 12.22.10 @ 11:58AM
seems like the liberals like unrepented terrorists that are want to take this country down.....
believer| 12.22.10 @ 1:18PM
Give these Puerto Rican's what they want, Free Puerto Rico and stop them from immigrating to America. No more money for their welfare , schools, and slums. Puerto Ricans make up a good percentage of violent criminals in New York as well , take them from the prisons and deport them. This piece of garbage Rivera shows that he has no intention of peaceful negotiations, send him back home to rot in Puerto Rican jails and perhaps that will cool his stupid opionion a little.
Bill| 12.22.10 @ 1:37PM
I see no reason to give clemency to an unrepentant self-avowed enemy of the United States who has been found to be willing to destroy it and has taken steps to try to accomplish that very goal. Let him serve out his sentence.
Call me crazy....| 12.22.10 @ 6:11PM
But it seems that War warped this man's mind. Anyone else here serve in Vietnam or war? I tried to see what he admitted to and it wasn't any specific bombing. If he did I'd say just get the $.25 for the round and end it right there. Otherwise, this isnt "news" its old and he is behind bars. Who cares? Let's report some important news.
ellen | 12.23.10 @ 1:46AM
http://www.okapparel.com
Richard Baker| 12.23.10 @ 9:33AM
Give me the pistol.
Occam's Tool| 12.23.10 @ 1:14PM
You guys are way too nice with this piece of filth. Casino Royale chair him (the recent one with Daniel Craig) until he dies.
Kevin Riley O'Keeffe | 12.28.10 @ 1:15AM
I don't care about this character. I haven't yet finished the article, but it doesn't sound like he actually killed anyone (if he did, then they should have executed him). But I definitely support national independence for Puerto Rico. Why the Hell would Americans want some Spanish-speaking, Third World island off the coast of the Guyanas to be part of our country? Puerto Rico simply ain't part of America, and its about time that fact was legally recognized. Patrick Buchanan has on several occasions made the point that conservatives ought to regard Puerto Rican nationalists as their allies, as we'd naturally share that goal in common. If I were a wealthy man, I'd be writing annual checks to the Puerto Rican Independence Party.
Joseph P.| 1.11.11 @ 3:47PM
Very good and balance article except for one act of omission: Terrorist Filiberto Ojeda-Rios did not just "die" in a violent shootout in 2005. Filiberto Ojeda-Rios was surrounded by the FBI on a Puerto Rican National Holiday, shot by an FBI marksman expert and left alone to bleed to his death instead of being arrested and taken to a hospital. The FBI actions were as henious as the crimes comitted by the FALN on civilans. Two wrongs don't make one right, and as long as the Federal government demonstrates disdain towards Puerto Ricans, during turmoil times or peace times, don't whine when some of them react.