Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumIn first, bipartisan House letter seeks Pollard’s release
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"Congressional Democrats and Republicans are joining forces for the first time in an effort to secure Jonathan Pollards release.
A bipartisan letter is circulating in the U.S. House of Representatives soliciting signatures on a letter to President Obama asking him to commute Pollards sentence to time served. The Dear Colleague letter is signed by veteran House members Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.).
What Mr. Pollard did was wrong. He broke the law and deserved to be punished for his crime, the letter to Obama reads. Mr. Pollard has now served more than 25 years in prison, many of which in solitary confinement, for his actions. There is no doubt that he has paid a heavy price, and, from the standpoint of either punishment or deterrence, we believe he has been imprisoned long enough.
The letter comes as Israeli President Shimon Peres visits the United States, where he is scheduled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama on Wednesday. Peres said he would raise clemency for Pollard, a civilian U.S. Navy analyst who was sentenced to life in 1987 for spying for Israel, when he meets Obama prior to receiving the honor.
I will speak one on one with the president about Pollard, Peres told reporters after arriving Monday ahead of the Medal of Freedom ceremony on Wednesday. The Israeli president also has the power of clemencyI understand all the problems associated with clemency. Clemency is not an extension of the judicial process, it includes considerations beyond and outside this area, and Ill explain this to the president. I expect that I will explain my position, beyond that I cant sayI dont know what his considerations are. I intend on focusing on the humanitarian aspect.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/in_first_bipartisan_house_letter_seeks_pollards_release_20120612/
oberliner
(58,724 posts)What would you say the odds are of this effort being a success?
jpbollma
(552 posts)this guy must have done some really bad shit. All of our previous presidents declined clemency. If he gives it to him, it will be a purely political act.
Scurrilous
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"US President Barack Obama is unlikely to grant President Shimon Peres' request for clemency for convicted spy Jonathan Pollard.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday that given the nature of Pollard's crimes, it was doubtful that the US would change its position on the matter."
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"President Peres, who is on a six-day visit in the US, during which he will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is planning to ask that Obama grant a presidential pardon to Pollard on humanitarian grounds.
Washington, however, remains unrelenting on the matter: "Our position has not changed and will not change today," Carney told journalists at a daily briefing.
"I would simply remind you that Mr. Pollard was convicted of very serious crimes."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4242185,00.html