U.S. must reward Birkenfeld' for UBS whistleblowing 

August 27, 2009

Bradley Birkenfeld blew the whistle on UBS, Switzerland's largest bank. His disclosure and cooperation with U.S. authorities provided inside information into the bank's conduct and began the dismantling of the historic secrecy of Swiss banks. Mr. Birkenfeld's disclosure directly led to a ground-breaking legal settlement in which UBS agreed to pay $780 million in fines, and UBS and the Swiss Government have turned over the names of thousands of Americans suspected of illegal offshore banking.

Today is tax day, the day that honest hardworking Americans file their tax returns. But on tax day this year a great injustice continues: whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, who exposed UBS' $20 billion offshore illegal tax fraud scheme, remains incarcerated in federal prison. The person solely responsible for the recovery of billions of U.S. tax dollars is the same person who has served more time than anyone connected to the UBS scandal.

Today is tax day, the day that honest hardworking Americans file their tax returns. But on tax day this year a great injustice continues: whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, who exposed UBS' $20 billion offshore illegal tax fraud scheme, remains incarcerated in federal prison. The person solely responsible for the recovery of billions of U.S. tax dollars is the same person who has served more time than anyone connected to the UBS scandal.

Today at approximately 2:00 pm EST, UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld reported to federal prison to begin a 40-month sentence. This miscarriage of justice will have the perverse effect of silencing whistleblowers who want to report tax fraud. In our entire history tracking whistleblower cases, this is the most abhorrent action ever taken against a whistleblower.  Mr. Birkenfeld deserves to be commended for protecting the American people and yet he faces the loss of his liberty.