Former Nazi's US Citizenship Appeal Rejected

Original article appeared on the AP

An effort filed by the estate of John Demjanjuk to restore his U.S. citizenship following his death has been dismissed. 

Ukrainian-born John Demjanjuk (dem-YAHN'-yuk) lived in suburban Cleveland. He was convicted in Germany on 28,060 counts of accessory to murder on allegations he served as a guard at the Sobibor death camp in occupied Poland.

He denied serving as a guard in any camp, and died in March at age 91 while appealing. Because he died before his appeal could be heard, the conviction is not considered legally binding according to German law.

But a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati rejected the citizenship bid filed by his estate in June, upholding a judge's ruling in Cleveland. The panel said Demjanjuk's death made the case moot.

The Demjanjuk defense team's request to the full court to take up the case was denied. The court filed the dismissal Tuesday.

The defense said the United States Government withheld potential useful material in their case.