Call for probe into ex-Goldman executives

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Financial Times

A senior Republican senator is seeking an investigation into potential conflicts of interest among former Goldman Sachs executives serving at the US Treasury and whether any officials exceeded their authority by implementing a controversial tax change without the approval of Congress.

Chuck Grassley, the most senior Republican on the Senate finance committee, asked Eric Thorson, inspector-general of the Treasury, to investigate the "independence" of several Treasury officials who formerly worked at Goldman Sachs and serve as advisers to Treasury secretary Hank Paulson, the former chief executive of the Wall Street bank.

Mr Grassley said in a letter to Mr Thorson that there was reason to be concerned that “relationships” between the officials and board members at two merging banks, Wells Fargo and Wachovia, gave the “appearance of preferential treatment”.

Mr Grassley singled out Robert Steel, a former Goldman official who worked under Mr Paulson at the Treasury before he became chief executive of Wachovia.

Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47bf32f0-b447-11dd-8e35-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1

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Also read:

Grassely's Probe of Ex-Goldman Execs at Treasury Could Lead Directly to Paulson

Since ex-Goldman CEO and current Treasury Secretary Paulson signed and approved the tax change, this investigation is headed right at Paulson.
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2008/11/grasselys-probe-of-ex-goldman-execs-at.html

[gateley]

1. Excellent! I hope this gets a lot of support. I e-mailed him a thank-you.

Here's his site/link if you'd like to drop him a line.

http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm

[DogPoundPup]

2. Thanks for posting! Will do. n/t

[gateley]

4. Thank YOU for posting the articles -- I wasn't aware of his effort until I read your OP. nt

[aquart]

8. I did. And this is what I sent:

I want to thank you for pressing forward on investigating Paulson's assistants.

It is a very long time since I have been able to associate any Republican with government oversight, honesty, or fiscal prudence.

[Waiting For Everyman]

3. Good! But Gramm should be investigated above all. n/t

[Turbineguy]

5. Chuck Grassley

is one of the few good republicans.

[blue97keet]

10. Right, Grassley investigated H-1B also

Along with Dick Durbin.

[boomerbust]

6. It will lead to Paulson

Which will lead right to Bush and Cheney

[sarcasmo]

11. I am leaning this way too, Paulson is a slimy character.

[bluesmail]

7. Inhofe (R) is too.

[Phred42]

9. Wouldn't this have to include some of the people around Obama?

:shrug: