Washington, D.C.-Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after meeting with Robert Benmosche, the CEO of American International Group (AIG), who traveled to Washington, D.C. to apologize in person for equating congressional and public criticism of AIG’s excessive bonuses during the financial crisis with lynchings in the Deep South:
“I appreciate that Mr. Benmosche came to Washington to meet with me today. The American taxpayers rescued AIG and saved the financial system threatened by AIG’s reckless actions, and obviously any comparison of lynchings with efforts to protect taxpayer funds is offensive and misguided. I take Mr. Benmosche’s actions today as recognition of these facts, and I appreciate and accept his sincere apology to me and to the taxpayers of this country."
