A rabbi in Trenton, New Jersey, who prosecutors say employed a kidnap team to force unwilling Jewish husbands to divorce their wives is set to stand trial.
Openings arguments are expected today in Rabbi Mendel Epstein’s trial on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and attempted kidnapping. Prosecutors allege that the Orthodox rabbi’s team used brutal methods and tools, including handcuffs and electric cattle prods, to torture the men into granting divorces.
Rabbi Mendel Epstein, accused of torturing men into granting their wives a Jewish divorce for $50,000, begins trial on February 17, 2015. (Photo credit: YouTube screenshot)
“If it can get a bull that weighs 5 tons to move, you put it in certain parts of his body and in one minute the guy will know,” prosecutors said Epstein told two undercover FBI agents posing as a brother and sister trying to force the sister’s husband to grant the ritual Jewish divorce known as a “get.” Prosecutors say he was recorded telling the agents the effort would cost at least $50,000.
The kidnap team brought surgical blades, a screwdriver and rope to a staged kidnapping in 2013, according to the indictment. Epstein, who was indicted last May along with his son and three other Orthodox rabbis, told the undercover agents he arranged similar kidnappings every year or year and a half, the indictment says.
Several co-defendants have pleaded guilty in the case and others will go on trial with Epstein.
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