Attorney General Eric Holder met with Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf on Monday. But they apparently didn’t discuss her top agenda item: Resolving U.S. government demands that Swiss financial giant UBS disclose the names of 52,000 wealthy Americans hiding an alleged $14.8 billion in secret Swiss bank accounts.
Holder, who represented UBS in a racial discrimination case while at Covington & Burling, has recused himself from the high-profile matter. Instead, says Reuters:
Holder thanked Widmer-Schlumpf for Switzerland’s offer for help with closing the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects, including possibly accepting detainees held at the facility. They also discussed cooperation on fighting organized crime, terrorism and terrorist financing, the department said.
Acting Deputy Attorney General David Margolis led the substantive UBS talks with Widmer-Schlumpf, Reuters said.
