United States-The worlds largest Kosher abattoir.

UNITED SATES-AGRIPROCESSORS.

Embattled former Agriprocessors executive Sholom Rubashkin has asked that 20 charges be dropped from his criminal indictment because they constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" and violate his constitutional rights, according to court papers filed with the District Court of Northern Iowa.

The court asks that counts 60 through 79 alleged against Rubashkin be dropped; they are described as allegations that he violated a 2002 order from the federal Department of Agriculture, and a statute of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

Rubashkin’s contention is that the statute is constitutionally defective, and that to charge him under it "contravenes due process and subjects him to cruel and unusual punishment," the court filings say.

The charges all stem from a May 2008 raid by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the company’s main facility in Postville, Iowa. Nearly 400 employees were arrested as illegal immigrants. Rubashkin and other company officials subsequently were charged with criminal violations involving identity theft, harboring illegal aliens, violations of labor law and other charges.