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AIG, Andy Fastow, Bernanke, Dylan Ratigan, Geithner, Holder, Jeff Skilling, Neil Barofsky, Troubled Asset Relief Program, William Black, Zero Hedge
Lisa Epstein and William Black on Dylan Ratigan’s show yesterday:
Speaking of Geithner telling “one lie after another”:
“The United States Treasury concealed $40 billion in likely taxpayer losses on the bailout of the American International Group earlier this month, when it abandoned its usual method for valuing investments, according to a report by the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
“In our view, this is a significant failure in their transparency,” said Neil M. Barofsky, the inspector general, in an interview on Monday.”
Zero Hedge has more of Mr. Barofsky’s report:
“This conduct has left the Treasury vulnerable to charges it has manipulated its methodology for calculating losses to present two different numbers depending on its audience: one designed for release in early October as part of a multifaceted publicity campaign touting the positive aspects of TARP and emphasizing the reduction in anticipated losses, and one, audited by the GAO for release in November as part of a larger audited financial statement. Here again, Treasury’s unfortunate insensitivity to the values of transparency has led it to engage in conduct that risks further damaging public trust in the Government.”
‘Manipulated its methodology for calculating losses?” Didn’t Jeff Skilling and Andy Fastow go to prison for that?
“Risks further damaging public trust in the Government?” Is that even possible?