06.22.23

Grassley, Whitehouse Recognized for Shining Light on Nazi-Linked Accounts at Credit Suisse

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global Jewish human rights organization dedicated to confronting anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, recognized Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) for their efforts to shine a light on previously-undisclosed Nazi-linked accounts held by Credit Suisse.

 DOWNLOAD PHOTOS Members of the Simon Wiesenthal Center present shofars to Sens. Chuck Grassley and Sheldon Whitehouse. Pictured from left to right are: Jonathan Missner of Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP; Dr. Ariel Gelblung, Director, Latin America, Simon Wiesenthal Center; Grassley; Whitehouse; Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean & Director for Global Social Action, Simon Wiesenthal Center & Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; and Andrew Beato of Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP.

The lawmakers were presented with shofars by Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Father Patrick Desbois, symbolizing a calling for continued cooperation in the pursuit of justice.

“Justice for those who suffered under the atrocities committed by the Nazis and their enablers demands that we leave no stone unturned. Accountability is always warranted, regardless of how much time passes. We’re honored to be recognized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center for our work to shine a light on the previously unreported bank accounts linked to Nazis. Our oversight has spurred Credit Suisse to dig deeper into its own records, and we look forward to examining the results of their review as our investigation continues,” Senators Grassley and Whitehouse said. 

“In profound appreciation of Chairman Whitehouse and Ranking Member Grassley, two crusaders of justice, we presented Judaica and a commemorative plaque with the inscription ‘Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue’ from Deuteronomy 16:20. We hope that this cherished shofar (ram’s horn) is a perpetual reminder of a higher calling to cooperatively pursue justice as leaders of Congress much as Simon Wiesenthal championed justice for the victims of the Holocaust,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Dr. Ariel Gelblung of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Father Patrick Desbois said.

As a direct result of the senators’ oversight, Credit Suisse, which was recently acquired by UBS Group AG, committed to further investigate its apparent role in supporting Nazis fleeing from justice after WWII via “ratlines” and to provide more detailed data about the value of accounts held during the post-1945 period. The Committee intends to continue its oversight of this matter.