President Trump commuted the first prison sentence of his presidency late Wednesday, cutting short the 27-year sentence of Sholom Rubashkin.
Rubashkin, 57, had already served roughly eight years in prison after he was convicted in 2009 on 86 counts of financial fraud while overseeing operations at Agriprocessors, a large kosher meat processor in Postville, Iowa. In a separate trial, Rubashkin was acquitted of knowingly hiring underage workers at the company.
"Many have called [his sentence] excessive in light of its disparity with sentences imposed for similar crimes," the White House said.
The commutation was backed by members of both parties in both the House and Senate, including House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and top conservatives such as Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
The White House said Trump's decision was "based on expressions of support from members of Congress and a broad cross-section of the legal community."
Because Rubashkin was only commuted, his conviction still stands. He will be released under supervision and has to pay restitution, the White House said.
Trump has also issued only one pardon: to former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio in August.
