Cuomo grants clemency to far-left activist convicted of killing three during armed truck heist

Gilbert's son, the far-left leaning San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, has lobbied for his release. Boudin was raised by former members of the Weather Underground when both his parents went to prison for this crime.

In a tweet Monday, Boudin wrote: "My heart is bursting. On the eve of my first child's birth, my dad - who's been in prison nearly my entire life - was granted clemency. He never intended harm, yet his crime devastated many families. My heart breaks for the families that can never get their loved ones back."

Gilbert was involved in the 1981 Brink's armored car robbery, in which two police officers, Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown, as well as Brink's security guard Peter Paige, were killed, according to the New York Post.

As a result, Gilbert was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree robbery for his role, and was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison with no possibility of parole until 2056.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Gilbert and his two co-defendants "cast themselves as freedom fighters and deemed their trial illegitimate. At one court session, Gilbert and co-defendant Judith Clark raised their fists and shouted 'Free the land!'"

In Cuomo's announcement, he commended Gilbert for his "significant contributions to AIDS education and prevention programs" as well as his work as "a student tutor, law library clerk, paralegal assistant, a teacher’s aide, and an aide for various additional facility programs," and said Gilbert would be referred to the Parole Board for a potential release.

Republican Assemblymember Mike Lawler, who represents Rockland County where the robbery took place, slammed Cuomo's action.

"Andrew Cuomo's final act as governor is a disgusting betrayal to the people of Rockland County," he said in a statement. "This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Brink's Robbery and rather than stand with the brave men and women in law enforcement, Andrew Cuomo has once again stabbed them in the back."

Boudin, the progressive San Francisco Defense Attorney, has long advocated for his father's release. Boudin's mother was also jailed for her part in the robbery, pleading guilty to felony murder and robbery, and was paroled in 2003.

Boudin has called US Immigration and Customs Enforcement racist, saying "There are lots of situations in San Francisco where ICE is making arrests. We know it's racist, we know it's targeting immigrants, and unfortunately right now no one in the DA's office has the resources or the mandate to investigate those interactions," according to the Daily Wire.

Earlier this year, Boudin dropped the charges against a suspect that brutally attacked a 75-year-old woman in San Fransisco, citing a lack of DNA evidence against the suspect despite ample witness testimony and surveillance footage of the attack.