Grassley to AIG execs: Resign or commit suicide

Senator Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, made the comments Monday in an interview with a radio station in his home state of Iowa.

"The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them (is) if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide," Grassley said.

"And in the case of the Japanese," he added, "they usually commit suicide before they make any apology."

AIG in a statement said: "The remark is very disappointing, but AIG's employees continue to work with poise and professionalism to take care of policyholders and repay taxpayers."

Grassley's office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. A Grassley spokesman, Casey Mills, told the Associated Press that the senator "doesn't want U.S. executives" to commit suicide but that executives who "make a mess of their companies should apologize, as Japanese executives do."

President Barack Obama on Monday expressed "outrage" about $165 million of bonuses paid to AIG employees, including some who worked in the unit primarily responsible for the company's troubles.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has said he will subpoena AIG for more information about the bonuses, including the names of the recipients.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel; editing by John Wallace)