HJ0032 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0032 LRB099 09414 GRL 31004 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In July of 2012, United States Army 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance was a 29 year old leading a new platoon in the 82nd Airborne Division in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, On his 3rd day of combat, 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance was leading his paratroopers through an enemy minefield when 3 Afghan men rapidly approached his platoon on a motorcycle; and

WHEREAS, Believing that the men were planning an ambush, 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance ordered his paratroopers to fire on the Afghans, killing 2 of the men; and

WHEREAS, Army officials subsequently accused 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance of violating the rules of engagement; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2013, an Army court martial convicted 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance of 2 specifications of murder, one specification of attempted murder, and other crimes; and

WHEREAS, After 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance began serving a 20-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, his defense lawyers uncovered evidence that the Afghan men were associated with the Taliban; and

WHEREAS, These Afghan men were associated with terrorist cells that were responsible for killing 11 United States and Afghan coalition forces and wounding 35 others; and

WHEREAS, 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance's lawyers uncovered the evidence of the terrorist connections after he was sent to prison; and

WHEREAS, 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance's lawyers have filed post-trial appeals in his case, alleging that the Army withheld this and other exculpatory evidence that was vital to his criminal defense; and

WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois support what President Abraham Lincoln did in another war - granting clemency toward American service members; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the United States Army and the President to grant 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance clemency in his case or, in the alternative, a new trial; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we state our belief that the elected officials of this nation should not turn against those young men and women that they send into harm's way; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call for the healing of the wounds that have been caused by this long war in Afghanistan, just as President Lincoln did when he used his powers to pardon soldiers in the Civil War; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to 1st Lieutenant Clint Lorance, President Barack Obama, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, Senator John McCain, and Senator Lindsey Graham.