New York – Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer convicted of spying for Israel, on Thursday lost a bid to overturn restrictive probation conditions imposed when he was released in November after serving 30 years in prison.
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U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan denied a challenge by Pollard to requirements imposed by the U.S. Parole Commission that he wear an electronic tracking device and submit his work computer to monitoring.
Pollard’s lawyers argued the conditions were arbitrary. They argued that he posed no flight risk, nor a threat to disclosing secrets as he would need to remember information from over 30 years ago that they said had no remaining value.
They contended that leaving the computer restriction in place was preventing Pollard from taking an investment firm job.
But Forrest ruled that the commission had a rational basis for imposing both conditions, such as Pollard’s expressed desire to leave the United States for Israel, where his wife lives and where he was granted citizenship while in prison.
She also noted that the commission also had reviewed a letter from U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stating that documents Pollard had compromised remain classified at the levels of “top secret” and “secret.”
“The Commission was certainly within its discretion to credit Director Clapper’s characterization of the intelligence Pollard compromised over the characterization advanced by Pollard’s preferred sources,” Forrest wrote.
Lawyers for Pollard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Pollard, 61, pleaded guilty in 1986 to conspiracy to commit espionage in connection with his providing Israeli contacts hundreds of classified documents he had obtained as a Naval intelligence specialist in exchange for thousands of dollars.
He was sentenced in 1987 to life in prison. After serving 30 years, which included time in custody following his 1985 arrest, Pollard was released on parole on Nov. 20 from a federal prison in North Carolina and now lives in New York.
Israel had long pushed for his release. As part of his parole, Pollard must remain in the United States for five years.
Thursday’s ruling came in Pollard’s second challenge to his parole conditions in court.
In December, Forrest ordered the U.S. Parole Commission to provide further justification for the tracking device and computer monitoring. The commission in March upheld the conditions while providing further reasoning.
Pure anti semi toms.
why dont we hear many more yiddin protesting this. once again we sit silent . RAISE YOUR VOICES
obama can pardon him
I can think of a few ways to get him where he wants to go.
This is ridiculous. He did a rotted in prison for years longer than it is normal to imprison people for this crime. Set him free.
He did it. He did it for money. He did it on purpose. He knew it was a crime. Let him pay.
I agree with #7 ; #6 is a gentile, and an African-American living in Saudi Arabia. He is no friend of the Jewish people, and intentionally posts his provocative posts on this site,in order to get under our skin. He wouldn’t dare post anything online against the Saudi government, as he knows that he would promptly receive a visit from either the religious police, or Saudi security personnel.
Obama was kind enough to pardon him. No other sitting president was as kind. Obama is a true mentsch. Why must we demand everything? Lets stop being pigs. At the end of the day pollard is out of jail and thats a big accomplishment and a hard move on Obama’s part.
As a side note, the naysayers were busy cursing Obama and stating what an anti semite he is. they siad after all look who supports the man Rev wright. The man has muslim extremist supporters. He must be an anti-semite. Well guess what he has been very kind and respectful to us yiddne. Presidential candidate supporters don’t necessairy indicate who will be good and who will be bad for jews.