On April 15, the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) is hosting a Tax Day event focusing on how existing U.S. whistleblower programs can be used to bolster U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions imposed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The free virtual event, which Whistleblower Network News is cosponsoring, features a panel of anti-money laundering, tax, and whistleblower experts.
According to NWC, “The IRS whistleblower reward law helped contribute to dismantling the illegal Swiss banking system. And now, that same law can help dismantle Russia through economic sanctions. These sanctions would target nearly every aspect of the Russian economy including its financial system, energy sector, and the assets of powerful individuals, or oligarchs, who are closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Whistleblowers who possess inside information regarding violations are the key to the success of these sanctions.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, whistleblower advocates have pointed out numerous ways that whistleblowers can help the U.S. disarm the financial engine behind the invasion. According to whistleblower attorney Michael Kohn of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, sanctions against Russia will not be effective without a whistleblower program for sanctions whistleblowers. NWC views the invasion of Ukraine as a reason why Congress should immediately pass legislation strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Program.
The expert panelists include Dean Zerbe, former Senior Counsel and Tax Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee and partner at the law firm of Zerbe, Miller, Fingeret, Frank & Jadav LLP (ZMF Law), Siri Nelson, Executive Director of NWC, Poppy Alexander, whistleblower attorney at Constantine Cannon, Eric Hylton, former Deputy Chief of the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Director of Investigations for ZMF Law, and Jeffrey Neiman, trial lawyer at MNR Law Firm. The event will be moderated by Matthew Beddingfield, Senior Associate at ZMF Law.
The panel will begin at 2 pm EST and will be followed by a live Q&A session. Registration for the event is found here.
Read:
Tax Day – National Whistleblower Center
Whistleblowers Can Help Stop Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Sanctions Against Russia Won’t Be as Effective Without Whistleblower Rewards