On January 28, 2011, Nussbaum sent a letter to President Obama stating that while serving as White House Counsel he extensively reviewed the Jonathan Pollard file. After pleading guilty 30 years ago Pollard was sentenced to an unprecedented life sentence for providing classified information to Israel without the intention to harm the United States. In his letter to President Obama Nussbaum wrote, "Pollard has been appropriately punished for his conduct, and a failure at this time to commute his sentence would not serve the course of justice; indeed, I respectfully believe it would be a miscarriage of justice." After serving 30 years in prison Pollard was recently granted parole. He was released from prison on November 20, 2015.