There are times that one has to wonder out loud exactly who's passing envelopes full of $100 bills around to State Attorneys general - or whether what's being passed is threats instead.
(Reuters) - State attorneys general are negotiating to give major banks wide immunity over irregularities in handling foreclosures, even as evidence has emerged that banks are continuing to file questionable documents.
A coalition of all 50 states' attorneys general has been negotiating settlements with five of the biggest U.S. banks that would include payment of up to $25 billion in penalties and commitments to follow new rules. In exchange, the banks would get immunity from civil lawsuits by the states, as well as similar guarantees by the Justice Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development, which have participated in the talks.
So now perjury is ok? Oh, and not just past perjury either: According to Reuters robosigning is still going on!
It takes a special set of brass balls to get caught submitting bogus documents in a courtroom thousands of times, negotiate for some way to not get bent over the table (and perhaps imprisoned!) for doing it, and while negotiating some sort of settlement continuing to do the same thing that got you in trouble in the first place!
We've seen this in the defense and drug industry in the past, but this is particularly outrageous for the simple reason that it touches nearly everyone, and is so "in your face."
I am not arguing that there should be "free houses" handed out. But at the same time you cannot allow banks - or anyone else - to make a mockery of the justice system. This pattern of behavior is extremely dangerous, for it risks the people deciding that the law no longer has meaning at once that happens all pretense of civil order is lost.
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=190415
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