Housing

Mortgage Task Force Moves Quickly as AG Settlement Resurfaces

Eleven financial institutions have been subpoenaed by a new mortgage investigative unit assembled to examine fraud related to mortgage originations and securitizations. The unit was mentioned as part of President […]

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. 

Eleven financial institutions have been subpoenaed by a new mortgage investigative unit assembled to examine fraud related to mortgage originations and securitizations. The unit was mentioned as part of President Obama's State of the Union address this week.

HousingWire is reporting that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, co-chair of the unit, will be joined in the effort by attorneys general Beau Biden of Delaware, Martha Coakley of Massachusetts, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Kamala Harris of California, and Lisa Madigan of Illinois.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has also indicated that an additional 15 lawyers and investigators are working with the task force, as well as the FBI and SEC.

“We have jurisdiction to go after every aspect of the mortgage bubble and the crash of the financial market,” Schneiderman said. “We have jurisdiction over every MBS issued over the last decade with Delaware and New York joining the group.”

News of these subpoenas comes at the same time of news that a $25 billion settlement between all U.S. attorneys general, the adminstration, and the country's largest banks may, once again, be in the works. Earlier this week, rumors that a final settlement was imminent and would be announced during the State of the Union were quelled amid a swift call for more bank culpability from advocates. The settlement was not mentioned in the president's address.

The settlement will reportedly involve a release from liability for mortgage servicing issues, including robo-signing, an easiily-identifiable type of misconduct for presecutors. But, in potentially good news for those calling for more punitive measures, banks will not be immune from criminal liability, tax liability, fair lending, fair housing, or other civil rights claims, and more.

Photo courtesy The White House via Flickr

About the Author

Matthew Brian Hersh

Matthew Brian Hersh served as senior editor at Shelterforce from March 2008 to October 2012. He studied English at Rutgers University and has spent his professional career in journalism, policy, and politics.

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