Congressman Mike Coffman of Colorado is the 17th member of Congress to write a letter to Attorney General Holder asking for an investigation into the Rubashkin case.
See below for the text of the Congressman’s letter:
Mike Coffman
6TH District, Colorodo
November 10, 2010
Dear Attorney General Holder,
I recently became aware of some of the details regarding the federal prosecution and sentencing of Mr. Sholom Rubashkin through a conversation with one of my constituents. I understand you have previously heard from a number of my colleagues on this issue. As you are likely aware, Mr. Rubashkin was sentenced to twenty-seven years in prison for white collar crimes, including bank fraud, originating from an ICE raid at his meat packing plant in Iowa.
My review of the publicly available facts of this case leads me to some troubling questions. Why did the presiding judge engage in ex parte communications with the US Attorney’s Office? Why didn’t the judge disclose those communications in the course of trail? Why didn’t the judge recuse herself from Mr. Rubashkin’s trail, in light of those previous communications? In what other ways, if any, did the judge give preferential treatment to the prosecutors?
Further, why did the judge sentence a first time, non-violent offender to a term of 27 years, above both the requests of the prosecutor and defense attorney? Did the Court improperly apply the Sentencing Guidelines to arrive at an unjust and unnecessary result?
I am not suggesting I have all of the answers to these questions. Rather, I note them in order to request your personal review of the facts of this case. At the least, the questions deserve investigation at a level above the US Attorney’s Office of Iowa, whose previous involvement in the case creates an appearance of partiality.
I believe that transparency is essential to the workings of our judicial system. Public confidence in the rule of law and the impartiality of the court must not be shaken by any improper actions by its officers. I would appreciate your full and fair review of the circumstances presented by this case to guarantee that Mr. Rubashkin received proper consideration and treatment, as is due all criminal defendants in our country.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Mike Coffman
Member of Congress
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
Nu, so halevai we should get some response from Eric Holder. Is he actually simply ignoring all these letters?
A shrek!
# 17 is “mispar tov” in numerical value. May it be so!!
Call the Office of the Attorney General
at (202) 514-2001 and ask Attorney General Eric H. Holder for comment on the congressional letters in favor of and investigation. Does he plan to investigate or not?
THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLES THAT MATAZAV IS PUBLISHING.
I THINK THEY OUGHT TO THINK HARD ABOUT THIS AND ABOUT THE ARTICLES THEY SHOULDNT BE PUBLISHING
Wow! What a great letter!
He asks great questions that need to be answered with an investigation by the attorney general. I hope the AG steps up to the plate and doesn’t turn a blind eye to misjustice and misconduct on the part of his prosecutors.
It’s time to start getting some senators involved too.
what is happening with the appeal? Are they still collecting funds for it?
Where were all these politicians BEFORE the election – hedging their bets by not questioning President Obama’s A.G.?
another HUMAN BEING standing up for democracy and decency. WOW
Bravo Congressman Coffman !!
another person who will stand up for fairness and decency.
Hopefully our trust in the legal system will be restored.