Anne Henderson-Pollard

Anne Alicia Henderson was born in 1955 in Montreal, Canada, to a family with Israeli connections. She met Jonathan Pollard while both were working in Washington, D.C., and they married on August 4, 1985, two months before Jonathan's arrest. The marriage occurred after the espionage operation was already underway, and Anne subsequently became directly involved in it.¹

Role in the Pollard Espionage Operation

Anne Henderson-Pollard's participation in Jonathan's espionage for LAKAM went beyond knowledge of her husband's activities. According to court documents and the statements of investigators, she:

• Photocopied classified documents that Jonathan brought home from his workplace
• Assisted in preparing intelligence materials for transfer
• Had documents stored in the couple's apartment
• Accompanied Jonathan to meetings with his Israeli handlers on at least one occasion

Her direct participation made her criminally liable under statutes covering possession and transfer of classified materials. Prosecutors described her as an active co-conspirator in certain aspects of the operation, not merely a passive spouse with knowledge.¹

Arrest and Prosecution

On November 21, 1985, the day after Jonathan Pollard was stopped outside the Israeli Embassy by the FBI and subsequently arrested, Anne was also arrested. The couple had attempted to seek asylum at the embassy before Jonathan's arrest; Anne was present at the embassy entrance during those events.

She pleaded guilty in 1986 to two counts: conspiracy to receive stolen government property and possession of stolen government property. She received a sentence of five years probation to be served in a residential treatment center, a lighter sentence than Jonathan's life imprisonment, reflecting her reduced culpability and her cooperation with the government during debriefings.¹

Illness and Death

Anne had a serious pre-existing case of Crohn's disease that was documented before her arrest. After her conviction, her health deteriorated significantly. In 1988, the Justice Department allowed her to travel to Israel to receive medical treatment. She remained in Israel under conditions negotiated between U.S. and Israeli authorities. On February 16, 1990, Anne Henderson-Pollard died in Israel from complications of Crohn's disease. She was 35 years old.¹

Jonathan Pollard remained incarcerated in the United States. He married Elaine Zeitz in 1994. He was released on parole in November 2015 after serving 30 years, and emigrated to Israel in December 2020.