Judge rejects dismissal of Iowa meat plant case

[The Straight Story]

Judge rejects dismissal of Iowa meat plant case

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB – 1 day ago

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a motion to dismiss illegal immigration and bank fraud charges against a kosher slaughterhouse and a former manager charged after the plant was raided.

Chief Judge Linda Reade on Friday rejected claims from attorneys of Agriprocessors Inc. and Sholom Rubashkin that grand jury proceedings were tainted by improper comments about religion, race and anti-Semitism.

Reade says the court found no impropriety and that the defendants mischaracterized "innocuous statements and questions" made by grand jury witnesses.

Attorney Guy Cook says he would speak with Rubashkin about "action regarding the ruling."

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