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I am going to respectfully disagree.

It looks like he was guilty, innocent motives notwithstanding.

What was the injustice was the sentence, which was clearly out of line, so much so I can’t see any reason for it except antisemitism.

Hence the commutation of the sentence, not a pardon.

Donald (which is the same name as “Cyrus” btw) made a wise call.

"It looks like he was guilty, innocent motives notwithstanding."

I'm not qualified to comment, but...

Would a person of innocent motives not withstand in ancient Rome, the Macedonian Empire, the Persian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, Sodom or the culture immediately before the Flood? You're correct. Many times, not. Many people with innocent motives, when accused, will not withstand in such civilizations. Prophets spoke of people being in prisons.

Prophets then spoke of people being free. In my unqualified opinion, Sholom Rubashkin committed an error against survival in a civilization said by its own lawyers, judges and their instructors to be modeled on their preferred government of ancient Rome.

All good young men should be impeccable in obedience and appearance, even though such impeccability is the pursuit of great men of war. I'm not speaking with any intent toward warfare today here but am referring to strategy for civil survival in a nation like Rome.

As a tenuously related aside, though, being impeccable for war and living "by the sword" are two different ways. One is the way of good preparedness for what one might have to do. The other is the robber's way, either informal or officious (to "live by the sword").

"What was the injustice was the sentence, which was clearly out of line, so much so I can’t see any reason for it except antisemitism."

Yes, and large numbers of others who attacked do claim to be like Sholom Rubashkin. That's the most hideous part, hurtful even to an outsider as unqualified as myself. There were also other casualties: great men with the greatest sight and most successful teaching efforts going out to this dimmest world.