Trump Took A Poll Before Commuting Sholom Rubashkin’s Prison Sentence

Image by Forward Montage

By Sam Kestenbaum December 21, 2017

President Donald Trump took a poll at a recent meeting before commuting the prison sentence of kosher meat executive Sholom Rubashkin, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.

In a recent meeting, Trump polled attendees about whether he should make this move https://t.co/piaKdmuWL6

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 21, 2017

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Rubashkin went free last night following a commutation by President Trump, a move that was met with large celebrations in New York’s Haredi enclaves.

Rubashkin’s Iowa-based meatpacking firm was the subject of what at the time was the largest immigration raid in U.S. history. The Forward [uncovered poor treatment of both animals and workers]https://forward-hcl50.orc.scoolaid.net/news/national/14157/agriprocessors-and-beyond/?attribution=blog-article-related-1-headline) at the plant in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, Rubashkin was found guilty of 86 counts of bank fraud. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

To read more on Shalom Rubashkin, see here and here.

Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum

Sam Kestenbaum is a contributing editor and former staff writer for the Forward. Before this, he worked for The New York Times and newsrooms in Sana, Ramallah and Beijing. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum and on Instagram at @skestenbaum.

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