February 6, 2006

The Honorable Patty Judge

The Secretary of Agriculture

Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Wallace Building

502 E. Ninth St.

Des Moines, IA  50319

Re:  $10,000 campaign contribution from Sholom and Leah Rubashkin

Dear Secretary Judge:

I'm writing to express to you my deep dismay upon learning that you have accepted a $10,000 campaign contribution from Sholom and Leah Rubashkin of AgriProcessors, Inc.  Given that AgriProcessors, Inc. is now in the process of being sued by the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the Clean Water and Clean Air acts as well as being under investigation by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for committing violations to the Humane Slaughter Act, it's difficult to see any morally justifiable reason for your acceptance of the Rubashkin's money in your bid for the Iowa Governorship; indeed, it's difficult to see it as anything more than a particularly blatant example of the buying of political favoritism in the name of corporate greed.  There is no excuse for this.  Having been given a personalized tour of the "new and improved" slaughterhouse techniques of AgriProcessors, Inc. does not excuse your behavior, nor does any argument with regard the "legal validity" of a campaign contribution by the Rubashkins justify the underlying immorality of either their actions, or yours.  I am writing, therefore, to ask that you return the money to them.  Perhaps in this way you can at least partially redress your failure to take a stronger stand on the egregious cruelties inflicted upon animals at AgriProcessors when they first came to light.  As Secretary of Agriculture, it is your job to protect animals from just such examples of abusive treatment.  To accept money from those responsible for that treatment only adds insult to injury.

Yours sincerely & etc. . . .