Patty Hearst is an American woman born on February 20, 1954, who became widely known in the 1970s after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). The SLA was a leftist group that sought to overthrow the U.S. government. Hearst was held captive for several weeks before she was seen participating in a bank robbery with her captors, which raised questions about her involvement and consent. Her case sparked significant media attention and debate about brainwashing and coercion. In 1976, Hearst was arrested and later convicted for her role in the robbery. She served time in prison but was eventually pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2001.