Secret testimony of closed-door Congressional hearings has been leaked to AP.
The senators' story from previous public statements: Both senators have said that at the time the mortgages were being written they didn't know they were getting unique deals from Countrywide Financial Corp.
A little more from the Dodd archives:
"As the Dodds have said from the beginning, they did not seek or expect any special rates or terms on their loans and they never received any. They were never offered special or sweetheart deals and if anyone had made such an offer, they would have severed that relationship immediately."
One does not deny getting deals unless one realizes the public stench would be repugnant.
Countrywide's story - now delivered under oath:
Asked by a House investigator if Conrad, the North Dakota senator, "was aware that he was getting preferential treatment?" Feinberg answered: "Yes, he was aware."
Referring to Dodd, the investigator asked:
"And do you know if during the course of your communications" with the senator or his wife "that you ever had an opportunity to share with them if they were getting special VIP treatment?"
"Yes, yes," Feinberg replied.
Indications are that the matter is going forward to the Ethics Committee.
Dodd is up for re-election in 2010. His latest polls don't look too happy for him:
In the latest survey, former Republican lawmaker Rob Simmons is leading Dodd by nearly 10 percentage points, 48%-39%, while former ambassador Thomas Foley is tied with Dodd at 42%. Dodd has slight leads against other prospective GOP challengers including state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, 42%-40%, and businessman Peter Schiff, 43%-38%.
A majority of Connecticut voters, 52%, have a negative impression of the senator. His approval rating is at 42%, a marked increase from the last survey conducted in late May that gave him a 38%-53% approval/disapproval.
Further, some 55% of voters said Dodd is not “honest and trustworthy” ...
Sen. Conrad isn't up for reelection until 2012. Maybe he'll just have to resign.
Comments
Good news for Peter Schiff. Dodd is a liar, a crook, and a thief.
How we even have to have a "closed-door Congressional hearings", just for a politician to finally tell the truth, deeply appalls me. Especially when the majority of the country, already knows he's lying, corrupt POS.
All these bums need to go in 2010 and 2012.
Great article by the way.
I agree with Darrin, "secret congressional" anythings stinks.
And with Frank, hoping Connecticut does us one good and puts Mr. Schiff into office.
Dodd is an insufferably self-righteous crook.
An up front, old-style machine politician crook is easier to take because he has no pretensions to any kind of class, social or otherwise, unlike Sen. Dodd.
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