Obama relative calls for Pollard release [with text of letter]

Gil Hoffman - The Jerusalem Post - February 15, 2011

African-American rabbi Capers Funnye Jr. wrote to US President Barack Obama on Monday calling on.him to grant clemency Jonathan Pollard. The Chicago-based Funnye is a first cousin, once removed, of Obama's wife, Michelle.

Pollard has served over 25 years in American prisons for spying on behalf of Israel, "a crime that he has expressed great remorse publicly and privately for committing against our country," Funnye wrote. "It is with great humility and knowing your sense of fairness that I ask you to give the matter of commuting the sentence of Jonathan Pollard every consideration."

The full text of the letter follows:

January 25, 2011

The Honorable Barack Hussein Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I write to add my voice to the many voices that have appealed to you for clemency by commuting Jonathan Pollard's sentence to time served.

Jonathan Pollard has served over 25 years in prison for a crime that he has expressed great remorse publicly and privately for committing against our country. Mr. Pollard pled guilty under a plea agreement with which he fully complied but the sentencing judge ignored the normal course of action in these matters.

It is with great humility and knowing your sense of fairness, that I ask you to give the matter of commuting the sentence of Jonathan Pollard every consideration.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr.

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