ACCESSION 
NUMBER:334566

FILE ID:NEA407

DATE:03/24/94

TITLE:CLINTON DENIES POLLARD CLEMENCY REQUEST (03/24/94)

TEXT:*94032401.PFN clinton/pollard text#yb+ AS kf

*NEA407   03/24/94



CLINTON DENIES POLLARD CLEMENCY REQUEST

(Text: President's statement, 3/23/94)  (260)

Washington -- President Clinton denied the application for executive

clemency by Jonathan Pollard, the U.S. Navy intelligence officer who was

convicted in 1985 for selling American national security secrets to Israel.



In a statement made March 23, Clinton said that in making the decision he

took into account the recommendations of the attorney general and the views

of law enforcement and national security agencies.



"My decision is based upon the grave nature of his offense and the

considerable damage that his actions caused our nation," he said.



Following is the official text of Clinton's statement:

(BEGIN TEXT)

After personally reviewing the Jonathan Pollard matter, I have decided to

deny his application for executive clemency.  I make this decision taking

into account the recommendation of the Attorney General and the unanimous

views of the law enforcement and national security agencies.  My decision

is based upon the grave nature of his offense and the considerable damage

that his actions caused our nation.



Mr. Pollard's crime is one of the most serious crimes against our country --

1lacing national security secrets of the United States in the hands of

another country.  I have considered Mr. Pollard's argument that he is

deserving of a shorter prison sentence because he spied for a friendly

nation.  I nevertheless believe that the enormity of Mr. Pollard's crime,

the harm his actions caused to our country, and the need to deter every

person who might even consider such actions, warrant his continued

incarceration.



(END TEXT)

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