Jonathan Pollard was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver classified information to the State of Israel.

Jonathan Pollard never had a trial. At the request of both the U.S. and Israeli governments, he entered into a plea agreement, which spared both governments a long, difficult, expensive and potentially embarrassing trial.  Jonathan Pollard fulfilled his end of the plea agreement, cooperating fully with the prosecution.  Nevertheless, Pollard received a life sentence and a recommendation that he never be paroled - in complete violation of the plea agreement he had reached with the government.  On March 4, 1987, he was sentenced to the maximum penalty, life in prison.

 

Jonathan Pollard was never indicted for harming the United States and he was never indicted for compromising codes, agents, or war plans.  Jonathan Pollard was indicted on only one charge: one count of passing classified information to an ally, without intent to harm the United States.

Jonathan Pollard’s life sentence is grossly disproportionate when compared to the sentences of others who spied for allied nations.  No one else in the history of the United States has ever received a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally - only Jonathan Pollard.  The median sentence for this offense is two to four years.  His life sentence is also disproportionate when compared to the sentences of those who committed far more serious offenses by spying for enemy nations.

 

Jonathan Pollard has repeatedly expressed his remorse publicly and in private letters to the President and others.  He regrets having broken the law, and is sorry he did not find a legal means to act upon his concerns for Israel.