NY Assemblyman Colman Again Asks Senator Lieberman to Respond

An Open Letter To Senator Lieberman

April 5, 2000

Hon Joseph Lieberman
United States Senator
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Lieberman,

On March 8, 2000 I wrote you an urgent letter regarding the fact that Senate candidate Hillary Clinton stated that although she is open-minded on the subject of Jonathan Pollard she is not taking a position because it is not a one-sided issue and because Senator Lieberman, a Jew, is against his release.

I stated in my previous letter that you owe the entire Jewish community and me an explanation and asked you to justify your position. Although we are all critics of Jonathan Pollard?s actions I asked you to explain why you advocate for his remaining in prison.

It is almost a month since I wrote to you and you have not responded, either in writing or by phone.

Once again, I am appealing to you to help us understand fully what crimes Jonathan Pollard perpetrated that warrant a continued life sentence and justify his being tricked into accepting a false plea bargain. We need to know what information you have that supports your recently writing a letter to the President urging him to keep Jonathan Pollard in prison. As I stated previously, if you cannot explain your position and if you have no justification, then you must immediately change your position and ask the President to release Jonathan Pollard.

This is a matter of great urgency to the Jewish community and your silence at this time, after your leadership role against him, is of even more concern than your previous involvement.

I appeal to you, again, to respond to my letter and publicly address all my concerns. I am enclosing another copy of my March 8, 2000 letter, even though your staff confirmed that you did receive it.

Sincerely,

Sam Colman
Member of Assembly