“Standard & Poor’s on Tuesday blasted a $5 billion fraud lawsuit by the U.S. government as retaliation for its 2011 decision to strip the country of its AAA credit rating. The McGraw Hill Financial unit was the only major credit rating agency to take away the United States’ top rating and the only one sued by the Department of Justice for allegedly misleading banks and credit unions about the credibility of its ratings before the 2008 financial crisis. In a filing with the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., S&P said the lawsuit attempts to punish it for exercising its First Amendment free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution but also seeks ‘excessive fines’ in violation of the Eighth Amendment.”
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101005690
Related posts:
Sessions rescinds Obama-era directive that eased federal marijuana enforcement
'Frustrated' Monsanto withdraws all EU approval requests for new GMO crops
CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack
In hard times, "I buy gold" is Italy's boom business
India Central Bank warns against Bitcoin use
CBO: Health-Law Tax to Hit 50% More Than Estimated
Ferguson is an occupation in plain sight
Obamacare-nullifying bill to be introduced in Virginia
Credit card donations to WikiLeaks once again flowing through Iceland
Cameron's EU Demand Letter Just Deepens His Domestic Dilemma
Colleges In U.S. Offer Highest-Ever Discount to Entice Students
Russia Today's Editor-In-Chief: 'The West Never Got Over the Cold War Stereotype'
Fears of NSA surveillance hurting the U.S. cloud computing industry
Police chopper, riot squad meet lone anti-Islam cartoon protestor
Ron Paul on Cavuto 6/19/2013