Bradley Birkenfeld has a new target. The whistle-blower, who almost single-handedly brought down Swiss banking secrecy, may yet again bring discomfort to his former employer, UBS.
Bradley Birkenfeld, convicted data thief, best paid whistle-blower and former UBS banker doesn't need introducing. Having recently been in the news for his offer to the French tax authorities, he hit the headlines in the U.S. again – under different circumstances.
Birkenfeld attacked democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for her alleged role in solving the tax dispute with his former employer UBS. The criticism by the whistle-blower, who served two and a half years in a U.S. jail, may make UBS uncomfortable yet again.
Clinton's Involvement
Clinton in 2009 influenced the negotiations with Switzerland to the degree that UBS got off «lightly», with a fine of $780 million, Birkenfeld claims.
The allegation about Hillary Clinton's involvement was aired in an interview with Sinclair Broadcast Group, the biggest TV network in the U.S. and known for conservative leanings. Little surprise then that Birkenfeld received carte blanche to air his view about the negotiations.
«She has no right in getting involved in an international criminal investigation,» Birkenfeld said.
Sore Spot
He put his finger on a sore spot. The «Wall Street Journal» revealed that UBS paid several hundred thousands of dollars to the charity foundation of the Clintons starting in 2008. Clinton's husband Bill several times was invited as speaker by the bank.
The «Journal» put the two allegations in connection with Clinton's role in the negotiations between the U.S. authorities and UBS.
The U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation against UBS in 2007 after Birkenfeld, who worked at the wealth management unit of UBS, had passed on information about U.S. tax dodgers to the investigators.
Cover Up
Birkenfeld today claims the subsequent agreement helped millionaires and politicians with accounts in Switzerland remain undetected, because only 4,450 tax dodgers were hung out to dry out of an estimated 19,000.
«This was to cover up for the rich and powerful people in this country, the millionaires and billionaires, and politicians who had accounts in Switzerland,» Birkenfeld claimed.
Among these thousands of names, a large number of mighty people remained hidden from publicity, the whistle-blower said. «We were well aware of many people that had accounts at UBS that were giving to political parties.»
As these accounts were numbered accounts, the owners felt safe. Of course they don't want to be found out, Birkenfeld concluded.
