DOJ, Social Security Administration Asked to Investigate Nazis Getting Benefits

The co-author of the 1998 Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act says she hasn’t gotten answers from the administration on whether suspected war criminals and SS guards have been receiving Social Security payouts.

The Associated Press reported the results of its two-year investigation that found at least 38 of 66 Nazi suspects removed from the United States since 1979 kept their Social Security benefits.

Four are still receiving checks from the U.S. government.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said Monday that she wrote to the inspectors general of the Social Security Administration and the Department of Justice to ask that they launch a probe into the allegations. Her 1998 bill created an interagency group to sift through wartime records about Nazi crimes and recommend files for declassification.

“We passed laws saying they should get no benefits and leave the country. But there’s a loophole. The law said they had to be deported. And some were denaturalized, some left of their own accord, so they have continued to receive benefits,” Maloney told CNN today.

“…Congress is not known for a lot of areas that we agree. But I — everyone I talk to is outraged across the country. The response is very strong.”

Maloney said neither the DOJ nor the Social Security Administration have responded yet to her requests, “but we’ll keep calling, and we’ll keep trying.”

“And they certainly should respond. The transparency is the hallmark of this administration and the sunshine is the best disinfectant. And they should come back with as much information or all the information that really respects our privacy laws, but there’s no reason that they can’t give numbers of how much has been spent and where,” she said. “These are known Nazi war criminals.”

Maloney said she’ll introduce a bill to close the loophole when Congress returns.

“Many of them weren’t even suspected. They had the proof that they were Nazi war criminals. And I have asked for that information of who received it, how much, how much of a period of time. And also the widows. In the event they died, their widows will continue to receive Social Security benefits,” she said. “So we need to get these numbers and see the span of it. A.P. reported four known criminals are receiving funds that they were able to locate. But I have asked the Justice Department and the Social Security Department to get back to me with the appropriate information, and I trust they will.”