Rabbi Arrested on Child Pornography Charge
Samuel Waldman, a teacher at a girls’ seminary, admits obtaining films online
March 06, 2014
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Samuel Waldman, a 52-year-old Brooklyn-based rabbi who teaches at a girls seminary, has been arrested on the charge of distributing child pornography, the AP reports.
A criminal complaint in federal court in Manhattan charged Waldman with distributing child pornography over the Internet in November by enabling others to download multiple videos depicting children in sexual acts, including girls ages 4 to 11.
Waldman was charged with one count of transporting or distributing child pornography. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
According to the Forward, Waldman admitted to obtaining and viewing child pornography, including disturbing videos of young girls being raped.
In a statement, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Samuel Waldman’s position of trust in the community, as both a rabbi and a teacher, makes his alleged distribution of child pornography all the more disturbing.”
We’ll update you as we hear more.
Stephanie Butnick is the founder of GOLDA, a Jewish lifestyle newsletter. She hosted the Tablet podcast Unorthodox, co-authored The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between, and worked as a writer and editor at Tablet.
