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Jonathan Pollard Could Be Freed From Prison Soon

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  • Jonathan Pollard Could Be Freed From Prison Soon

    Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard could be freed from prison soon
    By Eric Tucker and Matthew Lee, The Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — Jonathan Pollard, an American who was convicted of spying for Israel in a sensational espionage case that inflamed public sentiment, could be released from federal prison within months, his lawyer and the Justice Department said Friday.

    Pollard becomes eligible for parole in November, on the 30th anniversary of his arrest on charges of selling classified information to Israel. He will be presumptively eligible for release unless the U.S. Parole Commission determines that he has a record of bad behavior in prison or is likely to commit new crimes.

    U.S. officials say they're unlikely to oppose his parole. But the Justice Department says it expects Pollard to serve out his entire sentence.

    "The Department of Justice has always and continues to maintain that Jonathan Pollard should serve his full sentence for the serious crimes he committed, which in this case is a 30-year sentence as mandated by statute," said spokesman Marc Raimondi.

    His attorney, Eliot Lauer, told The Associated Press on Friday that he hoped his client would be released, but said he had received no commitment from the Obama administration.

    Pollard was arrested in November 1985 as he tried unsuccessfully to gain asylum in Israel's Washington embassy. Since then, the case has stoked passions and divided opinions, with supporters arguing that he was punished excessively given that he spied for a country that's a U.S. ally. Critics — including prosecutors and government officials — call him a traitor who damaged the nation by disclosing a trove of sensitive documents.

    The U.S. has previously dangled his release, including during Israel-Palestinian talks last year. His release now could be seen as a concession to Israel, which strongly opposed the just-concluded U.S. nuclear deal with Iran. But federal officials rejected that idea.

    "Mr. Pollard's status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures," said National Security Council spokesman Alistair Baskey. "There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard's status and foreign policy considerations."

    Pollard, 60, has battled health problems in recent years and is being held in a North Carolina prison. The federal Bureau of Prisons website lists his expected release date as November 21.
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    Part of me finds releasing this sleaze to be a revolting thought. On the other hand if he was sentenced to 30 years and he's served 30 years, fine. Let him out so he can spend whatever's left his miserable life on the outside in poor healthy.
    “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

  • #2
    He was sentenced to Life. Eligible for parole at 30 years IAW sentencing guidelines at the time.

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    • #3
      He should have been shot IMHO.

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      • #4
        He's served the court mandated minimum sentence and presumably hasn't had any behavioral/disciplinary issues while inside so out he comes - to rejoin the citizenry. Out of interest does anyone know if there were any legislation in place at the the time of his sentencing which prevents him from profiting financially form his crimes? You know by now 'writing' a tell all book or doing paid interviews etc?
        Last edited by Monash; 30 Jul 15,, 11:46.
        If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Monash View Post
          He's served the court mandated minimum sentence and presumably hasn't had any behavioral/disciplinary issues while inside out he comes - to rejoin the citizenry. Out of interest does anyone know if there were any legislation in place at the the time of his sentencing which prevents him from profiting financially form his crimes? You know by now by 'writing' a tell all book or doing paid interviews etc?
          If he tries that he'll be doing from Israel & as an Israeli citizen - presumably with a pension & nice apartment as thanks for his service. I guess the USG could go after publishers & distributors, but he will be hard to touch.
          sigpic

          Win nervously lose tragically - Reds C C

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Bigfella View Post
            If he tries that he'll be doing from Israel & as an Israeli citizen - presumably with a pension & nice apartment as thanks for his service. I guess the USG could go after publishers & distributors, but he will be hard to touch.
            I'm sure the terms of his parole will preclude him from leaving the country for a good long while...although once he's out of the joint, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he vanishes into thin air.

            And by "thin air" I mean a one-way trip to Israel.

            I wonder if they'll actually let him in this time or if they'll pull another "Get out of here!!" stunt like they did the last time. /sarcasm
            “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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            • #7
              Israel granted him citizenship in 1995.
              Last edited by Gun Grape; 30 Jul 15,, 22:53.

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