Sean Patrick Maloney: “after nearly 5 years in Peruvian prisons, my constituent, Lori Berenson, could finally be coming home. Last week, the…”

“after nearly 5 years in Peruvian prisons, my constituent, Lori Berenson, could finally be coming home. Last week, the military tribunal that gave Lori a life sentence announced that her conviction is being overturned and her case is being transferred to a civilian court. Lori was convicted by a hooded military tribunal in a trial that lacked any semblance of due process. She never had a chance to present her side, to call witnesses and present evidence in her defense. For nearly 5 years, I have been asking my colleagues to join me in protesting her conviction. I have circulated three letters to the President over the years, and each letter has been signed by more and more Members of Congress in support of Lori. In August, 221 Members of Congress, in a bipartisan way, signed a letter calling for Lori's release. I will be circulating a new letter asking for mercy for Lori, asking for Peru to act with compassion and send Lori home on humanitarian grounds. Since her conviction, Lori's health has deteriorated. She was originally sent to Yanomayo Prison, located high in the Andes, over 12,000 feet above sea level. The altitude destroyed her health. People like Lori who have not grown up in the Andes cannot acclimate to the high altitude of Yanomayo. I visited with Lori in October of 1997. When I saw her, her fingers were swollen and she had circulatory problems as a result of the high altitude.”