Members Of Congress Want AIG Counterparty Investigation by TARP IG

[chill_wind]

Members Of Congress Want AIG Counterparty Investigation
Arthur Delaney

March 26, 2009 12:48 PM

Twenty-seven members of Congress, led by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), signed a letter asking TARP watchdog Neil Barofsky to investigate the matter of AIG's counterparties -- firms to whom AIG paid off outstanding debts using TARP funds. AIG paid the full amount of its debt to other banks at home and abroad without seeking a partial settlement first.

The text of the letter:

March 25, 2009


The Honorable Neil M. Barofsky

Office of the Special Inspector General for the

Troubled Assets Relief Program

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1064

Washington, DC 20220

Dear Inspector General Barofsky:


After reviewing the documents released by American International Group, Inc. ("AIG") regarding the identity of counterparties to certain transactions who received taxpayer "bailout funds," we find that they raised more questions than they answered.

Congress and the American people were told that the AIG bailout was necessary to limit systemic risk across the global economy. Using bailout funds, AIG in turn paid various debts to the counterparties to its various transactions. Apparently, all claims were paid at 100 percent of face value, including swap-related claims.

We would like to know if assessments were made of the health and total exposure risks of counterparties, such as Goldman Sachs (which, for example, claimed it had no material exposure to AIG), Barclays, Deutsche Bank and others. If such assessments were made, by whom were they made and what were the criteria guiding the assessments?

Further, was any attempt made to renegotiate and close out these contracts with "haircuts?" If not, why not? What was the benefit of the decision to pay 100 percent of face value to the American taxpayers who provided the bailout funds and how did it support the goal of ensuring the stability of the economic system?

In essence, we would like to know if the AIG counterparty payments, as made, were in the best interests of the taxpayers who provided the funding and in the best interests of re-establishing long-term economic stability.

SIGTARP was created to investigate the uses of TARP funding, and AIG is among the largest recipients of TARP funding, and the largest recipient of government aid during the crisis. We believe that an investigation into the AIG counterparty payments is a critical component of the oversight effort. As the holder of nearly 80% of the equity in AIG, the U.S. government has a fiduciary obligation to manage this investment in a prudent manner, and your role is crucial to the protection of the taxpayers' rights as AIG's "shareholders." We look forward to your response to the above questions.

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings, et al.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/26/members-of-congress-want_n_179593.html


Which is good, because Rep Cummings wrote to both the Fed and Treasury in late January with questions about AIG and Geithner has still not responded.

Thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=114x61719

[terisan]

1. It's a beginning. nt

[chill_wind]

2. Barofsky was put in by Bush in December.

He may be good, but I really wish it was Pres Obama's guy. Someone like his Stimulus IG (Earl Devaney):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8227104

But yes- it's a start.

[terisan]

3. Thanks for the information.I am just eager for some justice. Guess vigilance is needednt

[chill_wind]

4. I share your thirst. n/t

[notesdev]

5. I want that too

and also to have FOIA requests honored and answered by the Treasury and the Federal Reserve.

[chill_wind]

6. That makes a few of us.

eom