NEW YORK
The News Journal
Jonathan Bandler, jbandler@lohud.com May 11, 2016
Officials of a Kiryas Joel school where a principal was observed on at least two videos in close physical contact with young boys are defending him and denying that any abuse occurred.
The Board of Directors of the United Talmudical Academy issued a statement calling the principal a respected Rabbi for more than. 30 years with an “unblemished professional record as an educator.”
The board also said the videos have been mischaracterized by the media and critics of the Hasidic community
The statement was released Tuesday, a week after the videos surfaced on the Internet and state police confirmed they had launched an investigation.
“The school principal is seen embracing the students who were sent to his office for behavioral issues,” the statement read. “While this type of restraint may be unacceptable to some viewers, it in no way rises to the level of a criminal assault.”
The videos were purportedly taken with a hidden camera above the principal’s desk. He is seen holding the boys between his legs, seemingly kissing them on occasion and sometimes caressing their faces. It was not known who installed the camera or for what purpose.
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