Lawmakers Press for Geithner AIG Testimony

by: David Lawder   |  Reuters

Lawmakers Press for Geithner AIG Testimony
(Photo: Senator Mark Warner / flickr)

Washington - U.S. lawmakers on Friday pressed for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to testify on whether the New York Federal Reserve Bank improperly pressured AIG to withhold information on payments it made to banks after its government bailout.

The requests came even as the Obama administration and the New York Fed rushed to say that Geithner, who headed the reserve bank at the time of the AIG rescue, was unaware of any emailed advice by Fed lawyers to limit disclosures.

Edolphus Towns, chairman of the House of Representatives Oversight and Government reform committee, said he asked Geithner to testify on the matter the week of January 18 at a hearing to examine emails between New York Fed and AIG lawyers that show AIG was advised to withhold "key details" of the bailout terms from the public.

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If Geithner did not know the

If Geithner did not know the NY Fed attorneys were communicating with AIG to withhold information from the public (taxpayers who footed the bill), then those attorneys should be summarily dismissed. So should Geithner, for being asleep at the switch.

On the other hand, if Geithner did know about the emails, he should be summarily dismissed for withholding public information. If Obama was true to his word about transparency and accountability, which we know he isn't, then Geithner should be gone tomorrow.



If Geithner was not involved

If Geithner was not involved in the process of hiding this information, then by all standards of public accountability he should have overridden the decision of the attorneys to hide this information. If he is not culpable, why did he not do the right thing, in spite of the attorneys?



Geithner, the obnoxious

Geithner, the obnoxious little prick, Larry Summers, and very quickly it is becoming apparent that Obama himself, are guilty of Treason. If this Republic is to be saved, these people have to go, and Fast! They are NOT acting in the Interest of the American People. How long will it take for this to become apparent to the Sleeping Masses? We don't have a lot of time here. We are heading RAPIDLY to a Total Breakdown crisis. There is NO RECOVERY...it is Illusory. The Larouche Four Country Initiative - with the USA, Russia, China, and India to begin, a NEW Hamiltonian Credit Based System, a la F.D.R., and putting the Imaginary Debt Bubble thru Bankruptcy proceedings, and essentially CANCELLING most of it, ALONG with the FED, and the rest of the Criminal International Monetary System, etc. is the ONLY way now to avoid a NEW DARK AGE. The bankers and the rest of the IMPERIAL MONETARY SYSTEM will NOT like this, but, guess what? Tough Sh-t! It's time to get tough with the Elitist Criminals. The Rest of the World will be HAPPY to go along...except for the MegaCorps, and the Royalty....



I have a small, but I think

I have a small, but I think significant AIG story:

Over 50 years ago, I took out a$1,000 paid-up-life insurance policy with The Franklin Life Insurance Company. Franklin was a straight-shooting and honest company, and after the paid-up time had passed they began to send me yearly "interest" payments -- reaching about $15 to $17 each year. And any dealings I had with them were straight-up and honest.

About 7 or 8 (?) years ago I got a notice from AIG that they had "bought out" the Franklin Life Ins. Co., and the interest payments reduced almost immediately to... what is now $1.53 per year in November 2009!

When I wrote and asked them why such a difference in interest income with same 50-year-old-policy, AIG's reply was "You can't expect to get the same payment from two different insurance companies."
Their reply, again when I asked about the full cash-in value of this same policy (including coupons still attached and other "extras") seemed rather low to me.

AIG was VERY cavalier in their responses to my only two queries, so I actually felt AFRAID to even be in touch with them. Having sent this experience around to several possible helpful resources, and not receiving any reply, I am STILL AFRAID to contact them.

Is Truthout able to help me with any information as to how to go about dealing with this "SCAREY" company, please?



The first thing Obama needs

The first thing Obama needs to do is get rid of Geithner and Summers. Like bush said: "You are either one of us, or you are one of them". This is simple for the American People... Giethner is one of THEM.



Big deal. He testifies and

Big deal. He testifies and we learn he did us wrong. Nothing happens to him or his pals. Democrats, Republicans....two sides of the same coin.



Fire Geithner, Summers,

Fire Geithner, Summers, Bernanke, shut down the Office of Thrift, close/fire the entire Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
A small, defensive step towards controlling dangerous domestic rage coming full speed from the left and the right. (Since most of us have been f#$ked over by these sob's)
Expect more paranoia, fear and punishment from our "Leaders."



"Too talented to fail",

"Too talented to fail", right? Obama can elect to be conciliatory to all, even his arrogant advisors, but he's writing himself a failed administration.



Another whiff of rat catches

Another whiff of rat catches the nose of Americans. Geithner testifies and we learn nothing. Geithner is part of the team running the show. It does appear from reports that he sold taxpayers out, and not just once. If so he should be out.



I am amazed that congress is

I am amazed that congress is even going to have a hearing on this.. after all, they are all guilty of lying to the public, and feeding the largest economic disaster in history.

Giether is like the expendable lower level henchman that Machiavelli uses to do his dirty work, and Obama sees that for what it is.

If the public want a head on a pole, better Giethner than Obama, is how the boss sees it.



I wish the population would

I wish the population would get as mad at the establishment with their allegiance to the moneyed elite and amend the Constitution to take ALL private money out of politics. It should be against the law to donate money, or anything of value to a lawmaker, or take them to dinner at a five star restaurant or on a Caribbean cruse or to Scotland to play golf, etc. Lobbyists should have to talk to the lawmakers during the lawmaker's office hours or at a town hall meeting like any common citizen. Until that happens we will continue to get screwed by those A$$ Holes!



The ever higher

The ever higher gold-bricking of Wall Street is burying US, your countrymen! Mr. Obama, Tear. Down. This. WALL!!