Former meatpacking executive released from prison after Trump commutes his 27-year sentence
Shutterstock.com.
Former Iowa meatpacking executive Sholom Rubashkin was released from federal prison on Wednesday after President Donald Trump commuted his 27-year sentence for bank fraud and money laundering.
Rubashkin has served more than eight years, report the Washington Post, the Associated Press and the Des Moines Register.
A White House statement said many have criticized Rubashkin’s sentence as excessive when compared to those for similar crimes. The president’s review of the case and commutation decision “were based on expressions of support from members of Congress and a broad cross-section of the legal community,” the statement said.
The financial fraud came to light after a large-scale immigration raid. The immigration charges were dropped and Rubashkin was acquitted of child labor charges.
A group of more than 100 former Justice Department officials had said in letter to the Obama administration that prosecutors had interfered with the sale of Rubashkin’s bankrupt business, leaving lenders on the hook for large losses that led to an increased sentence for Rubashkin.
Rubashkin and his family members have contributed significantly to mostly Republican political candidates and committees, according to the Post.
