[yoe]

I found this in my files, maybe it will lead to the others.

Hillary Seen Eyeing Spy Clemency Call In Deal With Key Pol

Hikind Nod May Hang On Her Pollard Stance

At Stake: Orthodox Votes

By RACHEL DONADIO
FORWARD STAFF

NEW YORK — A senior New York Democratic leader appears to be brokering a deal in which Hillary Rodham Clinton would call for the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard in return for an endorsement by a key politician in an Orthodox section of Brooklyn.

Pollard's fate was discussed at a meeting last week between Mrs. Clinton and Assemblyman Dov Hikind, according to Mr. Hikind and the Speaker of the State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, who arranged the meeting. Mr. Silver indicated that Mr. Hikind, who represents Boro Park, had urged Mrs. Clinton to "take certain positions" before he would consider an endorsement, presumably referring to Pollard. The Clinton campaign said it would welcome an endorsement from Mr. Hikind, who has been a vocal critic of the first lady. It said that Mrs. Clinton is still "looking at the issue" of Pollard.

Although still uncertain, with the election just nine weeks away, such a deal could shore up Mrs. Clinton's shaky support among thousands of conservative and Orthodox Jewish voters. If it were to happen, the deal would also put the first lady directly at odds with her husband, who repeatedly has refused to grant clemency to Pollard. Pollard was sentenced in 1987 to a life sentence after admitting he had passed classified documents to Israel while serving as a civilian analyst in the U.S. Naval Intelligence.

[nicmarlo]

Thanks much, yoe....I hope this might lead to more information for Doug!

[CaptRon]

When Hillary visited New Square during the campaign, after her major address, she had a private tea with the wives of the rabbis. I know of someone who was there. Though nothing was divulged of what was talked about, I believe that a deal was struck to hand out pardons for getting the votes of the community (two members of the community were subsequently pardoned by Bubba before he left office).

To me, it's obvious that a deal was struck. I worked in Republican politics for a few years here and I used to accompany Al D'Amato to New Square on occasion. Al would ususally take that community in a landslide.