This Week in Scandal Watch

[L. Coyote]

This Week in Scandal Watch
Alexandra Andrews - August 22, 2008 - http://www.propublica.org/article/2671 /


Every week, we take stock of how the week unfolded for the stories we're tracking in Scandal Watch (see the right sidebar). Click here for more information on how we do this and to suggest additions.

1. Subprime Mortgages and Ratings Agencies
The FBI has opened an investigation into incentives -- ranging from cars to tuition payments -- that some home builders offered to buyers in order to boost sales. The practice is legal, but if those perks went undisclosed, they could have skewed house valuations and defrauded lenders .....

2. Alaska!
Two weeks ago, Sen. Ted Stevens asked that his trial be moved to Alaska .... the trial will stay in Washington, D.C. ....
Meanwhile, ex-VECO CEO Bill Allen is living the high life in Alaska and New Mexico. His company was sold for nearly $365 million last year and a judge has postponed his jail time, estimated at 9 to 11 years, to 2009 in return for his cooperation with investigators.

3. Detainee Treatment
Testimony at the trial of Gitmo detainee Mohammed Jawad last week highlighted the role psychologists play in crafting methods of torture. .........


4. Military Contractor Abuse
This week, the Justice Department moved a step closer to prosecuting the Blackwater security contractors who shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians