Puerto rico militant leader emerges from 36 years in custody

You're referring to the recent news about the release of Puerto Rican militant leader, Oscar López Rivera, after 36 years in custody.

Oscar López Rivera is a Puerto Rican independence activist who was arrested in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years in prison for his involvement in the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), a militant group that sought independence for Puerto Rico from the United States. López Rivera was accused of participating in several bombings and other violent acts, including the 1975 bombing of the Fraunces Tavern in New York City, which killed four people and injured over 60.

López Rivera's release was part of a deal brokered by President Barack Obama, who commuted his sentence in January 2017 as one of his final acts in office. The decision was met with both praise and criticism, with some seeing it as a long-overdue recognition of López Rivera's commitment to the Puerto Rican independence movement, while others argued that he had not shown sufficient remorse for his actions.

López Rivera's release has been seen as a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for Puerto Rican independence, and has sparked renewed debate about the island's relationship with the United States.