Rabbi on trial for alleged involvement in divorce kidnap ring

Opening statements began in the trial of Rabbi Mendel Epstein, who stands accused of employing a kidnap team to force unwilling Jewish husbands to divorce their wives, and who faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and attempted kidnapping. Three co-defendants: his son David Epstein, Jay Goldstein and Binyamin Stimler, face similar charges stemming from a staged kidnapping in 2013 and three other forced divorces.

Defence attorney Robert Stahl disputed the charges and portrayed Mendel Epstein (69) as a “champion of women’s rights”.

“This is not a band of criminals extorting men for money or beating them for money,” Mr Stahl said, arguing that Jewish law allows unwilling husbands to be forced to give their wives a divorce document, known as a “get”.

Mr Stahl said the husbands in question were the villains.

Prosecutors allege the Orthodox rabbi’s team used brutal methods and tools, including handcuffs and electric cattle prods, to torture the men into granting divorces. Authorities allege the kidnap team brought surgical blades, a screwdriver and rope to a staged kidnapping in 2013.

Rabbi Epstein allegedly told undercover agents he arranged similar kidnappings every year or so, US attorney Joseph Gribko said. Mr Gribko made reference to a recorded conversation, allegedly between the rabbi and US agents. throughout his opening statement, including an alleged description of how the cattle prods were used.

“If [the cattle prod] can get a bull that weighs 5 tonnes to move, you put it in certain parts of his body and in one minute the guy will know.”

Undercover agents

Prosecutors said Rabbi Epstein met with two undercover FBI agents posing as a brother and sister trying to force the sister’s husband to grant a divorce. Mr Gribko said the rabbi was recorded telling the agents the effort would cost $60,000 (about €53,000).

Mr Stahl, holding a copy of Rabbi Epstein’s 1989 book A Woman’s Guide to the Get Process, called Mr Gribko’s opening statement an “interesting and compelling story,” but not evidence against Rabbi Epstein.

Mr Stahl argued that Rabbi Epstein is simply good at advocating for women and that his reputation is “that he can convince these husbands to go give their wives a get”. Mr Stahl said that “some laws may have been broken along the way”, but said that that did not include kidnapping.

Mr Stahl also sought to discredit David Wax, a witness in the case. Mr Wax is cooperating with prosecutors after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping in a case where he was paid $100,000 (about €88,000) to force a Jewish man to divorce his wife.

Prosecutors are expected to play footage before the court from recordings by the undercover FBI agents.

New York Times service