Consultant Says Rubashkin Indictments Influenced By Jewish Stereotypes

The Des Moines (IA) Register reports on Monday's federal district court hearing on motions challenging the 97-count indictment of Sholom Rubashkin, a former executive of kosher meat producer, Agriprocessors, Inc. (See prior posting.) Rubashkin, a Hasidic Jew, was indicted last year on charges of immigration fraud, bank fraud and failure to pay cattle producers. A consultant hired by defense lawyers says that grand jury members' perceptions of Rubashkin were gradually influenced by grand jury testimony suggesting Jewish stereotypes. Prosecutors say that the claims take small pieces of grand jury testimony out of context and, in any event, that Rubashkin was not prejudiced by any bias that the grand jury felt.