Rep. Michael Grimm became the first Republican in the House of Represen-atives to back the latest push for clemency for Jonathan Pollard.
Grimm, a freshman from Staten Island, N.Y., says in a YouTube clip posted last week by a supporter of the convicted spy for Israel that he visited Pollard at his North Carolina prison two weeks ago.
“As a former FBI agent, someone who has fought for justice most of my life, we have to acknowledge that the penalty does not necessarily meet the crime and most would say that it’s excessive,” Grimm said. “I am working with many others in Washington, we are doing what we can to have justice prevail, and justice in the case is to have Jonathan Pollard released from prison.”
Grimm also noted that Pollard has acknowledged that what he did was wrong.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) earlier this month became the first sitting GOP lawmaker to back clemency.— jta