'People assume we may feel betrayed by our government. I don't feel that way'

Rochester native Evan Liberty with his presidential pardon granted by President Trump on Dec. 22. (Courtesy photo/Bill Coffield)

Editor's note: On New Year's Day, 10 days after he received a full and unconditional pardon from President Trump, The Rochester Voice was granted an exclusive 40-minute interview with Rochester native Evan Liberty, who was wrongly imprisoned in the so-called Nisour Square massacre in Iraq in September 2007. His first-published interview since his release was held by telephone with his longtime attorney Bill Coffield also present. Evan spent more than six years behind bars. The interview was conducted by Rochester Voice editor Harrison Thorp.

The Rochester Voice: First, since your release the mainstream media continues to repeat the same false charges against you that have been refuted in multiple briefs filed on your behalf. Do you have a comment on that?

Evan Liberty: I was saying yesterday mainstream media is lazy, they just cut and paste. You (The Rochester Voice) went above and beyond. Most of the reporting is from people uninterested in the facts, more interested in politics.

The Voice: And what do you say to people who feel you were wrongly pardoned?

Evan: I can understand people are outraged at the pardons if they simply read what is in the media and take it as 100 percent true. I dispute that. If they collect all the facts they would change. We (fellow former Blackwater guards Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Nicholas Slatten who were also pardoned) were very deserving of a pardon, and we were convicted of something we didn't do. It's lazy journalism. They (the media) like to spread that narrative painting Blackwater as the bad guy.

The Voice: Let's go back to that day you were pardoned, December 22^nd. What was it like that day? Were you aware it was going to happen?

Evan: It's pretty amazing, we'd been locked down cause of a COVID outbreak (at the prison), so I had had no communication with family and friends. I knew people were advocating for me, and we'd heard paperwork had been filed (with President Trump's Office), but I was trying to go about my daily routine and not get stressed. On that Tuesday (around 5:30 p.m.) I was reading - studying Spanish - and my unit manager came to my door. I could tell he was frantic, and I was taken aback. He said 'sit down'; I was already sitting down. Then he said 'are you ready for this?'

I said what going on?

He said, 'You just got a presidential pardon, pack your stuff.'

I was in shock, I put my head in may hands. I told him I am packed; I don't need nothing.

Then I grabbed my picture of my grandfather, my Spanish book and a book called Discipline Equals Freedom written by Navy Seal Jocko Willink.

Then I shook my cellmate's hand and told him to keep or give out the rest of my stuff.

Then we went straight into the offices to do paperwork. It was surreal, I was cautious not to get too excited, to make sure what I was hearing was true. Then they showed me the pardon paperwork, and I knew it was final.

The Voice: What happened then?

Evan: It took about an hour to do the paperwork. Then we walked across the compound to the administration building. All the prisoners were in their cells. I guess by that time the news had hit (the inmates), because as soon as I stepped out of the building they were all cheering. They were happy for me. I was happy they were wishing me the best of luck.

The Voice: Wow, that must have been awesome to be cheered like that.

Evan: I had been at the same prison the majority of my time, and I got to know a lot of the inmate population. They were genuinely happy to see me getting out. When I stepped out those doors I knew that after 13 year's it's final.

The Voice: So you've been out a few days. How do you feel?

Evan: I feel great, it's a big adjustment. You go from total restriction to total freedom. I'm taking it slow, enjoying time with family. I'm overwhelmed with support I've received, a lot of people I grew up with, Blackwater family, people I don't even know. They all say how happy they are for me. It's overwhelming, I'm really thankful.

The Voice: How bout friends back home, from Rochester?

Evan: I've heard a lot from high school classmates, from people I grew up with, some that I haven't talked to for many years. They reached out, and they all said the same thing: If you need anything let me know. That means the world to me.

The Voice: This may be difficult, but how do you feel about the way you were prosecuted, the way exculpatory evidence was withheld and stuff like that?

Evan: A lot of people assume we may feel we were betrayed by our government. I don't feel that way. I am a patriot. I want to serve my country. I wanted to go in the Seals after we were pardoned in 2009. I would still do that. What happened was just a few select people made a few decisions that were politically motivated.

I've received so much support, it's overwhelming. I just feel like thanking people is not enough. They gave me another chance at life, and the best way to thank them is to live a good life and do something productive like supporting troops with PTSD, maybe in fitness (industry).

The Voice: Maybe you could help us out on that. We can't seem to get rid of this gut.

Evan (laughs): We could do that.

The Voice: Speaking of fitness, we heard you lost a little weight in prison.

Evan: The food situation at prison took a toll on me. I am now eating better and doing my workouts.

The Voice: Are you planing a visit to Rochester?

Evan: Oh yes, but right now I'm relaxing with family, getting back to normal.

The Voice: Great, anything else before we let you get back to decompressing?

Evan: I'd like to add how grateful I am to the president. The way he supported the troops, what he's done for the four of us, is just amazing.