Trump Commutes Sentence Of Iowa Kosher Meatpacking Executive

DAY 20 - In this Feb. 8, 2017, file photo. President Donald Trump sits at his desk after a meeting with Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, left, and members of his staff in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (A... DAY 20 - In this Feb. 8, 2017, file photo. President Donald Trump sits at his desk after a meeting with Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, left, and members of his staff in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) MORE LESS
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted the prison sentence of an Iowa kosher meatpacking executive sentence to 27 years in prison for money laundering — the first time he’s used the presidential power.

The decision to intervene on behalf of Sholom Rubashkin, who ran the Iowa headquarters of a family business that was the country’s largest kosher meat-processing company, came at the urging of multiple members of Congress and other high-ranking officials who argued Rubashkin’s sentence was too harsh, the White House said.

Rubashki was convicted in 2009 of financial fraud for submitting fake invoices to the plant’s bank that made the company’s finances appear healthier than they were so that it could borrow more. His prosecution came after federal authorities raided the plant and arrested 389 illegal immigrants in 2008.

The 57-year-old father of 10 has served more than eight years of his sentence, according to the White House, which stressed the action is not a presidential pardon and does not vacate Rubashkin’s conviction.

Rubashkin’s long-time attorney Guy Cook praised the decision, saying his client “has finally received justice.”

“The sentence previously imposed was unfair, unjust and essential a life sentence,” he said via email. “President Trump has done what is right and just. The unrelenting efforts on Rubashkin’s behalf have finally paid off.”

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Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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  1. Just more Donnie pork barrel bullshit…

    Lox him up.

  2. So not only was he winky dinkying the business books he hired 300+ illegals? Is Steve King involved in this some how, please pretty please?

  3. Looks like we’re in for another Derschowitz article on Faux News tomorrow then…

  4. Not sure. But King is not very Jew-friendly. A corrupt Chabadnik (mind, I’m generally fine with Chabad) like Rubashkin would not have been the kind of guy Steve King would mind grinding into dirt.

    I think Trump, like a lot of casual antisemites, believes certain common stereotypes about Jewish people, and thinks that this will help him with conservative Jews enough to matter. I don’t think it will help all that much even with that crowd, although I suspect a fair number of people think Rubashkin was railroaded. And in all fairness, if Rubashkin has already served 7 years, it’s enough for that kind of white-collar crime.

  5. Avatar for sandi sandi says:

    Next he will sign an executive order saying money laundering is not a crime. Cutting down that onerous legal code to create (criminal) economic growth.

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