Spitzer Says He Won't Drop Any Inquiries Begun by State

[leftchick]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/26/nyregion/26spitzer.html

<snip>
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer of New York said yesterday that he did not intend to cede to the federal government any of his existing or previous investigations into business practices.

Criticizing a front-page article in The New York Times yesterday about his plans, Mr. Spitzer issued a statement saying that increased regulatory activity by the federal government, particularly the Securities and Exchange Commission, made it more likely that Washington would take the lead or act alone in new investigations. But he said that his office would not withdraw from cases in which it is now actively involved, calling the notion "absurd."


The article referred imprecisely to Mr. Spitzer's plans, saying he was "ready to cede those investigations" to the federal government and leaving the incorrect impression that he was referring to existing investigations. The headline also said that he would "yield inquiries" to federal regulators.

The article "suggests that the attorney general has somehow altered his views on the role of his office in confronting corporate fraud," the statement said. "This is simply not true."

Mr. Spitzer, who recently announced his candidacy for governor of New York in the 2006 race, has become prominent in part because of his popular investigations into the securities and insurance industries. Industry officials have long criticized him for being overly aggressive in those areas, but Mr. Spitzer said yesterday he reserved the right to remain aggressive in protecting the interest of consumers. Without being specific, he promised several announcements early next year.

[MSgt213]

1. Good because the feds will make sure no one will be any penalty at all.

[Skink]

2. I think the NYT needs to clean house again.

[Moderator]

3. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1097787