April, 15 2010, 08:59am EDT
UBS Whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld Files Official Clemency Petition on Tax Day
WASHINGTON
Today, Bradley Birkenfeld,
the whistleblower who exposed the $20 billion illegal UBS tax fraud
scheme, filed a direct appeal to President Barack Obama and an official petition requesting clemency. The
petition, which is now available online, calls on the president to
immediately commute Mr. Birkenfeld's 40-month prison sentence to time
served. Mr. Birkenfeld is currently incarcerated in the Schuylkill
County federal prison.
After filing the petition for clemency, Mr. Birkenfeld's attorney
Dean Zerbe said:
"When the government cannot stop offshore tax evasion, it is the
honest American taxpayer who has to foot the bill. President Obama can
change this. He can pardon Mr. Birkenfeld on tax day and send a message
to the world that the U.S. is serious about cracking down on bank
secrecy, encouraging whistleblowers and stopping tax fraud."
In the letter to President Obama attorneys for Mr.
Birkenfeld, Stephen M. Kohn, Executive Director of the National
Whistleblowers Center and Dean Zerbe, former counsel for the Senate
Finance Committee, stated:
"We appeal to you today, the day that honest Americans must pay
their taxes, with the hope that you will help correct a severe
injustice...Every day Mr. Birkenfeld remains in prison undermines trust
in the tax system and is a step backward in the fight against
corruption."
The National Whistleblower Center has initiated an international letter writing campaign, asking that
letters and emails in support of Mr. Birkenfeld be sent to President
Obama and the Pardon Attorney.
Links:
Letter to President Obama Requesting Executive Clemency
Clemency Petition
International Letter Writing Campaign
Photo of Bradley Birkenfeld, courtesy of the
National Whistleblowers Center
Since 1988, the NWC and attorneys associated with it have supported whistleblowers in the courts and before Congress and achieved victories for environmental protection, government contract fraud, nuclear safety and government and corporate accountability.
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