Mankato Council Member Seeks Pardon of Dakota 38

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — A Mankato City Council member is seeking a presidential pardon for the 38 Dakota men hanged in a mass execution at the end of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

KTOE-AM reports  Jack Consadine submitted a petition to the White House after he learned about the history of the hangings. His petition seeks a posthumous pardon for the "Dakota 38," plus two Dakota men who were hanged later.

Consadine says there were no defense attorneys and the trials were only three to five minutes long. He says the Dakota believed they were being invaded.

Some disagree with Consadine, and say the Dakota's war tactics were brutal.

As of Sunday, there were less than 700 signatures on the petition. A petition needs 100,000 signatures to be considered by the president.

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