Des Moines, IA – Dozens Of Well Known Names In Legal World Throw Their Support Behind Rubashkin Petition

    35

    FILE - Sholom Rubashkin, left, talks with Defense Attorney F. Montgomery Brown during a break at the Black Hawk County Courthouse on May, 10, 2010, in Waterloo, Iowa. (RICK TIBBOTT / Courier Staff Photographer)Des Moines, IA – Over 100 prominent individuals have signed on a letter accusing prosecutors of misconduct in the Rubashkin trial and calling on U.S. Attorney Kevin Techau to correct the “miscarriage of justice” that occurred during the Rubashkin proceedings.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    According to reports in the Des Moines Register, the letter was signed by many heavyweights including former Department of Justice officials, FBI officials, federal judges, state attorneys general and law professors.

    Among those who signed on the four page later dated April 19th are former attorneys general John Ashcroft, Ramsey Clark, Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey, former acting attorney general Stuart Gerson, former FBI directors Louis Freeh and William Sessions, former senator Joe Lieberman, former Massachusetts governor and assistant attorney general William Weld, former New York City mayor and prosecutor Rudy Giuliani and former solicitor general Kenneth Starr who led ethics investigations into former president Bill Clinton.

    The letter came just weeks after Rubashkin’s defense team presented new evidence accusing prosecutors of improperly interfering with the sale of the Postville, Iowa Agriprocessors plant, depressing the price by millions, a factor that ultimately led to the lengthy 27 year prison sentence imposed, as previously reported on VIN News (http://goo.gl/04I9vV).

    While the letter may be heavy on support from notable figures, previous attempts to use big names to sway the U.S. Attorney’s office to reconsider Rubashkin’s sentence have failed. A 2012 attempt to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal in the case signed by more than 80 former federal judges failed.

    “There’s nothing to be lost by trying but it hasn’t worked so far,” said Professor Laurie Levenson of Loyola Law School, a former federal prosecutor who was well acquainted with the Rubashkin case. “Unless they come up with new facts. That’s really the important thing. Not that you have big names, but that you have facts and law on your side.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Young declined to discuss the claims outside of the filing. Prosecutors have until May 20th to respond to the allegations of wrongdoings by Rubashkin’s legal team who say that had federal prosecutors not been involved in the sale of the business, it would have fetched a significantly higher price which would have resulted in Rubashkin receiving an approximately three year sentence.

    Rubashkin, a first time offender and a 51 father of 10, has already served almost seven years in prison of what is essentially a life sentence.

    A separate letter written on April 8th by former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa James Reynolds slammed prosecutors for their attempts to exclude any members of the Rubashkin family from purchasing the business.

    “Had this kind of unfair, underhanded and unnecessary misconduct occurred during my tenure, you can be absolutely certain that the perpetrators would have faced consequences, the very least of which would have been the loss of their job,” wrote Reynolds.

    Professor Jeffrey Bellin of William and Mary Law School expressed doubt that the letter would produce the desired results.

    “No matter how well known the signatories, I don’t think a letter directed to the United States attorney will by itself change any minds,” said Bellin. “The federal prosecutors handling the case likely understand the applicable law and the factual allegations as well as anyone.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    35 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Itchakadoozie3
    Itchakadoozie3
    7 years ago

    And yet none of those names mean a thing until the Ribono Shel Olam puts into the head of the judge to pardon him. Keep davening and doing our hishtadlus chevra!

    Normal
    Normal
    7 years ago

    Seven years seems plenty for this small white collar crime.

    BuckyinWisconsin
    BuckyinWisconsin
    7 years ago

    May he be freed soon. I am constantly reading about those who embezzled and committed crimes much much more serious and received much much lighter sentences. I do think that R. Rubashkin received very very bad defense advice in trying to fight this charge, and not taking a plea bargain. His attitude came off as arrogant and without remorse. Courts HATE that attitude and will punish you accordingly. If he has said “I am guilty, I am sorry, I won’t do it again” he would have gotten a very light sentence of maybe three to 5 years. Our federal court system does not lose cases when going to trial, they have an overwhelming success rate, due to their power and ability to throw an unlimited amount or resources at the case. And I have no doubt that the Feds manipulated this case, in order to get the highest rate of conviction. That is what they do. And it may have been completely legal to do so. G-d forbid any person is caught in the maw of the federal prosecution services, but if you are, throw yourself on the mercy of the court, humbly “admit” your guilt, and try and get the lightest plea bargain you can. That is your only chance .

    7 years ago

    I really hope that this man who has unfortunately suffered so much should finally go free

    villyamsburger
    villyamsburger
    7 years ago

    I hope the petition is not written with as many spelling and grammar mistakes as this article.

    Hope he gets released already.

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    7 years ago

    we don’t know what the outcome will be but one thing is for sure..TEFILAH for Rubashkin will help get him released. We should all be Mispalel for him as well for other prisoners and give Tzedukeh and every women should have him in mind when lighting shabos lecht .

    Secular
    Secular
    7 years ago

    In the words of Reverrend Al,

    It’s not a miscarriage of justice, it’s an abortion of justice.

    7 years ago

    Mishiga country. we have become a country of incarceration. We simply can’t afford to house all these inmates. Time to rethink how we punish non violent inmates who are not a threat to society.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    7 years ago

    Lets hope and pray that he and all other of our brothers will be released quickly.
    For anyone who still believes that antisemitism played no role is plain Meshuga.

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    7 years ago

    The only play if this fails, is to get a commutation of this ridiculous sentence by outgoing Obama (fat chance!), or from the next president.

    7 years ago

    a total miscarriage of justice: the US is putting NY politicians in jail for much less time, NY is putting rapists and murderers in jail for less time, yet what did Rubaskin do that was so terrible that he gets 27 years????

    7 years ago

    The judge is this case was a blatant אנתסמת. America גנב.

    Marksw
    Marksw
    7 years ago

    A good start whould be if someone can
    Petition the White House on the Issue,
    (If it gets decent Votes its getting the Attention to the current Administration )
    Someone with the clear facts of the case should create this,
    Heres the link
    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/

    7 years ago

    I’m praying he stays in jail for a long time and I’m also praying the phone calls I receive during dinner with my honest family cease asking for money for him. Let his wife sell her fine jewelry purchased with illegal money. I pray for the women who were raped by his managers and he did nothing.

    7 years ago

    He should have shown some remorse. Big ego