Frank, a Massachussetts Democrat who initiated the letter, said 39
Democrats have already signed the petition for Pollard's release. He said
the letter was drafted in coordination with American Jewish organizations.
"My own hope is that if the president were to do this it would
contribute to the political climate within the democracy of Israel to
enhance the peace process," Frank said.
At a Nov. 18 news conference, Frank said House Republicans refused to
sign the letter for Pollard's release. He cited fears by GOP members of an
electoral backlash based on national security concerns.
"The current nature of the Republican party is that this is not the
thing to do," Frank said.
The letter said Pollard's life sentence was far more severe than
what others convicted of similar offenses have received. Over the last 15
years, some of those convicted of relaying classified data, including
Egyptian and Saudi nationals, received as little as two years in prison.
"We believe that there has been a great disparity from the standpoint of
justice between the amount of time Mr. Pollard has served and the time that
has been served — or not served at all — by many others who were found
guilty of similar activity on behalf of nations that, like Israel, are not
adversarial to us," the letter said.
The letter, said to have been supported by some in the former
administration of President Ronald Reagan, said the 25 years Pollard has
already served comprised sufficient punishment and deterrence. The Democrats
said the letter did not mean to question Pollard's prosecution or sentence.
"Such an exercise of the clemency power would not in any way imply doubt
about his guilt, nor cast any aspersions on the process by which he was
convicted," the letter said.
ShareThis
