A federal judge has brushed aside contentions that a former Postville meatpacking executive’s indictment was tainted by anti-Semitism. Lawyers for Sholom Rubashkin had asked for a dismissal of numerous charges, including allegations that he defrauded a bank and helped illegal immigrants obtain false papers.

The defense lawyers claimed in court last month that witnesses before a federal grand jury made negative references to the fact that Rubashkin and other former Agriprocessors managers are Orthodox Jews.

The lawyers presented an expert on jury issues, who said those stereotypes could have helped lead to the indictment of Rubashkin and the other men.

But Chief District Judge Linda Reade ruled today there was no basis to the defense’s claim.

“It is the court’s firm conviction that there was no impropriety in these grand jury proceedings,” she wrote. “Simply put, Defendants have mischaracterized and taken out of context what are in truth innocuous statements and questions.”

The judge did not rule on defense requests that the men’s cases be separated and that the trials be moved out of state to avoid bias caused by extensive media coverage.

Agriprocessors has been the focus of intense controversy in Iowa and nationally since last May, when federal agents raided it and arrested nearly 400 workers on immigration charges. The plant is now in bankruptcy and is up for sale.

Defense lawyer Guy Cook said today he was unsure if Rubashkin would appeal Reade’s ruling on the grand-jury bias contention.

Prosecutors declined comment.

The trial is set for September, but it could be delayed.

(Source: The Des Moines Register)