NEW YORK
Gothamist
BY EMMA WHITFORD IN NEWS ON MAY 12, 2016
Federal agents are currently conducting searches in the ultra-Orthodox village of Kiryas Joel in Orange County, New York. A spokeswoman for the FBI confirmed an ongoing search but declined to comment further.
The purpose of the raids is as yet unclear. According to reports from the scene on Twitter, about 15 FBI agents entered the United Talmudical Academy, a local yeshiva, shortly after 10:00 a.m. accompanied by a local sheriff and agents from the Sullivan County DA’s office. News 12 reports that the agents are also executing search warrants at the village’s public safety building.
Last week, the Journal News reported that police were investigating a video allegedly showing the principal of United Talmudic Academy kissing a young student. The 11-minute video was widely circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook. According to the News, the uncut version shows a boy standing between a man’s legs as he strokes the boys face and kisses him. State police confirmed that they had the video and were looking into the incident, but Orange County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek would not confirm an investigation.
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