President Bill Clinton Clemency

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When he left office in January 2001, President Clinton refused clemency to Jonathan Pollard,

• in spite of his repeated express commitments to Israel to free Pollard in return for numerous heavy concessions
• in spite of his commitment to free Pollard as an integral part if the Wye Accords
• in spite of the appeals of the Jewish community, and
• in spite of the gross injustices of the Pollard case which include:
  • a grossly disproportionate sentence
  • a broken plea agreement
  • the use of secret evidence
  • a false charge of treason
  • ineffective assistance of counsel
  • ex parte communication between prosecutors and judge
  • a lack of due process
  • a sentencing procedure infected by false allegations and lies

President Clinton showed his contempt for Israel and the American Jewish Community by refusing Pollard clemency while granting it to a host of convicted felons, guilty of such crimes as:

• murder
• kidnapping
• armed bank robbery
• carrying explosives during the commission of felony
• burglary
• distribution of crack cocaine near a school
• possession of firearms by convicted felon
• malicious damage to government property
• conspiracy to effectuate the escape of a federal prisoner
• distribution of cocaine, crack and heroin
• racketeering
• extortion
• money laundering
• conspiracy to defraud the United States
• embezzlement from a federally funded program
• bank fraud

For details, see:

• Jan. 21, 2001 list of commutations
• Jan. 21, 2001 list of pardons
• Department of Justice complete list of pardons granted by President Clinton (1993-2001)

Two of the clemencies in particular that were granted by President Clinton, one to a tax fraud racketeer and fugitive from the law, Marc Rich; and the other to an urban terrorist, Susan Rosenberg, have prompted outrage across the spectrum in America and have elicited calls for a congressional investigation. Jonathan Pollard continues to languish in prison in his 16th year of a life sentence.

• Feb. 8: Fallout from Clinton Pardons for FALN Prompts Reform Measure, Renewed Debate: CNN

• Sept. 22: Former Prisoners of Zion Call on President to Release Pollard

• Dec. 11: If Pope, Then Pollard: National Council of Young Israel
• Dec. 15: Departing Clinton Is Pressed On Clemency For Pollard: The Jewish Week
• Dec. 15: Jonathan Pollard's Statement of Remorse and Appeal for Clemency
• Dec. 15: Pollard Attorneys Renew Appeal for Clemency: Lauer and Semmelman
• Dec. 15: Pollard Seeks Place on Bill's Xmas List: Rachel Donadio
• Dec. 15: Departing Clinton Is Pressed On Clemency For Pollard: The Jewish Week
• Dec. 18: Clemency for Pollard: - Seymour D. Reich - NY Times
• Dec. 29: Pardoning Pollard: The Times Points The Way: The Jewish Press (NY)
• Dec. 29: Time To Let Pollard Go: Hamodia
• Dec. 31: Simon Wiesenthal Center Calls On Clinton to Free Pollard: J4JP Release

• Jan. 4: A Pardon For Pollard: The Jewish Week (NY)
• Jan. 4: President Clinton - Grant Pollard Clemency: Jewish Journal
• Jan. 5: Presidential Clemency For Pollard? NYC Councilman Noach Dear
• Jan. 10: Pardon Pollard, Mr. President: Jerusalem Post
• Jan. 16: Bill Owes Pollard A Pardon: Sidney Zion
• Jan. 15: "Clinton Fears Angering Bush Over Pollard" - Who Are they Kidding?: J4JP Release
• Jan. 21: Pollards React to Clinton's Rejection of Clemency: IMRA
• Jan. 21: Clinton Refuses to Reduce Pollard's Sentence: MENL
• Jan. 21: Clinton Pardons His Brother; Leaves Pollard In Prison: Yediot Achronot
• Jan. 21: President Commutes Sentence of Woman Charged, but Not Tried, in Brink's Robbery: NY Times
• Jan. 21: Changing the Story on the Last Page: NY Times
• Jan. 21: Clinton Issues Pardons, Clearing Deutch and McDougal, but Not Milken or Hubbell: NY Times
• Jan. 22: Pollard Defenders Outraged at Clinton: The Jerusalem Post
• Jan. 22: Hopes for a pardon dashed, Pollard backers look to courts: Michael J. Jordan
• Jan. 22: Bill: Those I Pardoned 'Paid in Full': NY Daily News
• Jan. 24: An Indefensible Pardon: NY Times
• Jan. 24: Influential Backers Helped Commodities Trader Win Pardon: NY Times
• Jan. 25: Scurrilous Attack on Pollard Ignores Injustice: J4JP Release
• Jan. 25: Abandoned on the Battlefield: Jerusalem Post
• Jan. 25: Pardons on the Sly: NY Times
• Jan. 25: Some Israelis duped into backing Rich pardon: The Jerusalem Post
• Jan. 25: No Pardon For Pollard: Jewish Week (N.Y.)
• Jan. 25: Pardon Me: "Only A Pawn In Their Game" NJ Jewish News
• Jan. 26: Clinton's Pardons: It's All About Who You Know: The Forward
• Jan. 26: Pardon Me, This Is Not Justice: San Francisco Chronicle
• Jan. 26: Clemency for Sale: Los Angeles Times
• Jan. 26: Hillary Clinton Avoiding Spotlight: NY Times
• Jan. 26: Citing Pardon, Mayor Drops Meeting With Mrs. Clinton: NY Times
• Jan. 26: Anatomy Of A Pardon: Jewish Week (NY)
• Jan. 28: Anger Over the Pardon Clinton Didn't Hand Out: New York Post
• Jan. 29: When Is a Presidential Pardon Unpardonable? Larry King Transcript
• Jan. 29: The Privilege of Kings Becomes That of Presidents: NY Times
• Jan. 30: Pardon Of Jewish Philanthropist Raises Questions About Giving: Julie Wiener
• Jan. 30: Rogues' Gallery Irks Feds: NY Daily News

• Feb. 1: Isn't It Rich? New York Times
• Feb. 2: Pardoned Fugitive En-RICH-ed Barak's 1999 Campaign: The Jewish Pres
• Feb. 2: The Price of Freedom: Rabbi Dov Fischer
• Feb. 2: Conference Was Told Agencies Would Not Oppose Pollard Clemency: Jewish Press (NY)
• Feb. 2: Why an investigation of the Marc Rich pardon is imminent: CNN
• Feb. 4: Jewish-American Organizations Mum on Rich Pardon: The Jerusalem Post
• Feb. 5: Rich Was Spy For Israel: NY Post
• Feb. 5: Mossad Boss' Pardon Letter Stirs Criticism: Uri Dan
• Feb. 6: Pardon for Subject of Inquiry Worries Prosecutors: NY Times
• Feb. 9: Denise Takes 5th on Pardon: NY Daily News
• Feb. 9: Clinton Charged with Bad Judgment in Rich Pardon: Jerusalem Post
• Feb. 9: Hill Denies Any Role In Wiping Rich Slate Clean: NY Post
• Feb. 9: Sources: Ex-Wife of Pardoned Fugitive Gave $400,000 to Clinton Library: Time
• Feb. 9: Holocaust Museum Chief Stumbles Into Flap Over Pardon of Scofflaw Rich: Forward
• Feb. 10: Documents Show a Complex Campaign to Win a PardonAlison Leigh Cowan, NY Times
• Feb. 11: Pollard to Sharon: Push for Pardon: Jerusalem Post
• Feb. 11: Bill's Very Bumpy Road From White House: NY Daily News
• Feb. 12: Quinn's Worst Sin: NY Post
• Feb. 12: Elie Wiesel Says He Did Not Contribute to Effort to Secure Rich's Pardon: NY Times
• Feb. 13: Pardon That Swept Away A Plea: Washington Times
• Feb. 13: Pardon Investigators to Issue Subpoenas: NY Times
• Feb. 13: What Marc Rich Did: NY Post
• Feb. 14: Did Pollard Pay the Price for Rich? J4JP Release
• Feb. 14: Firm Reportedly Cancels Clinton Speech Talks: Reuters
• Feb. 15: Israelis Lobbied for Fugitive Rich's Pardon: Washington Jewish Week
• Feb. 15: We Should Be Ashamed of Ourselves: Eric H. Yoffie
• Feb. 15: The Hypocrisy Of Joseph diGenova: Jewish Press
• Feb. 15: On Choosing Between Marc Rich and Jonathan Pollard: Jewish Press
• Feb. 15: Clinton 'Bewildered' by Pardon Mess: AP
• Feb. 15: Prosecutor Opens Rich Pardon Probe: AP
• Feb. 15: Jewish Leaders' Unpardonable Role: NY Daily News
• Feb. 15: Feds Open Rich Bribe Probe: NY Daily News
• Feb. 15: U.S. Is Beginning Criminal Inquiry Into Pardon of Rich: NY Times
• Feb. 16: Israel's Role in Pardon Sparks Capital Feuding: The Forward
• Feb. 16: Friends in High Places: Marc Rich's Jewish Fans: The Forward
• Feb. 16: Mr. Rich's Roster: The Forward
• Feb. 16: House Panel Expands Probe of Rich Pardon: Washington Post
• Feb. 16: Clinton Says Israel Influenced Pardon: NBC
• Feb. 16: Senate to Probe Deutch Pardon: Washington Post
• Feb. 16: Yoffie: Jewish Leaders 'Bought' On Rich Pardon: Jewish Week (NY)
• Feb. 17: Pollard Seen As Loser to Rich: Baltimore Sun
• Feb. 17: Pardon Puts New Spotlight on a Clinton Fund-Raiser: NY Times
• Feb. 17: Clinton Ignored CIA in Pardoning Intelligence Analyst: Washington Post
• Feb. 18: A Clinton Fund-Raiser Is Said to Be Behind Gifts in Rich Case: Jill Abramson, NY Times
• Feb. 19: US Jewry Slams Clinton for Blaming Rich Pardon on Jews: Jerusalem
• Feb. 19: Clinton Pardon Statement Questioned: AP Post
• Feb. 19: Israel's Role In Pardon Questioned: AP
• Feb. 19: Mr. Clinton's Explanation: NY Times
• Feb. 19: Schumer Unconvinced by Clinton's Explanation of Rich Pardon: NY Times
• Feb. 20: In 16 Years Israel Has Never Done for Me What Barak Did for Rich in 16 Days: Yediot Achronot - Exclusive
• Feb. 20: The First Grifters: Wall Street Journal
• Feb. 21: Rich Donated to Olmert, Sold Arab Oil to Israel: Ha'aretz
• Feb. 21: Former President Calls Rich Pardon 'Disgraceful': AP
• Feb. 21: MK Kleiner Links Joining Coalition to Pollard Effort: Jerusalem Post
• Feb. 22: It Doesn't Matter If You Are Rich or Pollard...As Long As You've Got Money: NJ Jewish News
• Feb. 22: Did the Jews Make Him Do It?: Philadelphia Jewish Exponent
• Feb. 23: When All Else Fails, Blame The Jews: Jewish Press
• Feb. 23: Federal Prosecutors Investigating Clinton Commutations: NBC
• Feb. 23: Exposé: Using Pollard to Get Rich: Yediot Achronot Exclusive Investigation
• Feb. 23: A Little Help From His Friends: Ha'aretz
• Feb. 23: Sorry Jonathan - You Never Had A Chance: Assemblyman Dov Hikind
• Feb. 23: Did Clinton 'Scapegoat' Jews?: Jewish Week (NY)
• Feb. 23: Pollard And Rich Pardon Linked - Report: Jewish Week (NY)
• Feb. 24: Pardon Smoothed by Ties to Israel: Washington Post
• Feb. 24: Speaking of Pardons: Washington Post
• Feb. 25: A Chance for Pollard: Seymour Reich
• Feb. 25: Rich Pardon Planners Used PM As Key: Uri Dan
• Feb. 25: Your Case Has No Merit, Mr. Clinton: Washington Post
• Feb. 26: Pushing Rich Pardon Hurt Jonathan Pollard and Undermines Strategic Israel-US Alliance: Ha'aretz
• Feb. 26: Follow The Markers: NY Post
• Feb. 26: Pardon Me - An Interview with Al Schwimmer: Jerusalem Report
• Feb. 28: Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Defends the Marc Rich Pardon: Larry King Live (CNN)

• Mar. 1: Top Clinton Aides Say They Opposed Rich Pardon: Reuters
• Mar. 1: An Attorney's 'Shabby' Attempt To Pin Pollard Blame: Alan Dershowitz
• Mar. 2: Barak Call Changed Clinton's Mind On Rich, Say US Officials: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 2: Scapegoats and Humbugs: Forward
• Mar. 3: 'Humanitarianism' Cited in Clemency for Lawyer: Washington Post
• Mar. 4: Shame On Clinton: Jewish Week (NY)
• Mar. 4: Barak Refutes Testimony on Calls for Rich: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 4: Clinton Aide Says Barak Had Key Role in Rich Pardon: Reuters
• Mar. 4: Pardon Us: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 5: The Jews Made Me Do It!: Weekly Standard
• Mar. 5: Missed Pardon/Pardons And Pollard: Jewish Week (NY)
• Mar. 6: Esther Pollard: Rich Pardon Shames Jewish Community: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 9: Isn't It Rich? Charge Pardoned Tycoon Never Assisted In Yemeni Jewry Rescue: Jewish Press
• Mar. 9: I Spy? Man Who Says He Fingered Pollard Loses In Court: Jewish Press
• Mar. 9: Congress to Question Barak on Marc Rich: Ha'aretz
• Mar. 9: The Rich Pardon: Compassion Vs. Justice: Jewish Week (NY)
• Mar. 9: The Jewish Pardon Scandal Heard 'Round The World Writers ask, what did the 'Free Rich' efforts say about our values: Jewish Week (NY)
• Mar. 22: Jerusalem Post Radio Interview with Esther Pollard: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 22: Foxman: I 'Probably' Shouldn't Have Asked for Rich Pardon: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 23: Jewish Leader Defends Rich Pardon: AP
• Mar. 24: Supporter of Pardon for Fugitive Has Regrets: NY Times
• Mar. 25: ADL Took $250,000 From Marc Rich: Jerusalem Post
• Mar. 26: Safire Calls for Foxman to Resign: NY Times
• Mar. 29: Jews Divided Over Rich Pardon: AP
• Mar. 30: Honest Abe And The Pardon: Jewish Week (NY)
• Mar. 30: The Foxman Follies: ADL Director Admits Deeper Involvement In Rich Pardon Effort: Jewish Press
• Mar. 30: Pressure Building On ADL's Foxman Over Pardon Mess: Forward

• Apr. 9: Now For The Proper Pardon: Jerusalem Report
• Apr. 11: Rich Cashed In a World of Chits to Win Pardon: NY Times
• Apr. 20: Money Talks: Atlanta Jewish Times

• May 8: For $100,000, Clinton Should Answer Serious Questions: Metro West Jewish News

• June 1: Sharon and Katsav Refuse to Help: Special Feature - HATZOFEH Weekend Magazine
• June 20: Legal Doc: Transcript Of Court Hearing in Secret Documents Case

• Aug. 21: Clinton and Barak Discuss Rich Pardon in a Transcript: NY Times
• Aug. 22: What They Have Never Done for Jonathan Pollard: J4JP Release

• Dec. 14: Judge demands papers tied to Clinton's pardon of Rich: Chicago Tribune
• Dec. 14: Marc Rich lawyers ordered to turn over documents: CNN

• Jan. 18: A Rich Lesson In Ethics: Stewart Ain

• Apr. 22: Pollard Attorneys Correct Clinton on Remorse: Newsweek
• Nov. 18: FOIA Doc: Conf. of Presidents Letter to U.S. Sec. of State Betraying Pollard: J4JP Release

• Feb. 12: The Clintons' Terror Pardons: The Wall Street Journal
• Nov. 22: A Pardon to Remember: The New York TImes

• Jan. 14: Holder to Face Grilling Over Clinton Pardons: ABC News
• Jan. 25: Post Bush Redux: The Case of Jonathan Pollard Raises Troubling Questions by Richard Cummings - J4JPnews
• Jan. 27: Washington: Bush Rejected Pardons For Many, But Left Pollard Petition Alive: VosIzNeias
• Feb. 15: Not treason, not dual loyalty, but equal justice is the issue: Esther Pollard, The Jerusalem Post

• Dec. 27, 2012: Pollard's Catch-22: Esther Pollard, The Jerusalem Post

• June 26, 2013: Financier Marc Rich pardoned by Clinton dies in Switzerland: Fox News
• June 26, 2013: Marc Rich, 'King of Oil' pardoned by Clinton, dies at 78: Gil Cohen - The Jerusalem Post

• Oct. 30, 2014: Doc: Clemency Letter to President Obama by Pollard Attorneys re: unjust, flawed parole process
• Dec. 17, 2014: Obama Issues 12 Pardons, Commutes 8 Sentences: Bill Chappell - National Public Radio

• Feb. 22, 2015: NEW! Exposed: Secret memo reveals Pollard sentence a sham: Aaron Klein - Worldnetdaily
• Feb. 22, 2015: Feds lied for 30 years about Jonathan Pollard: WND Exclusive OpEd on Weinberger Memo Declassificatio: Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman - Worldnetdaily