This articlefrom Sunday's front page now on line, describes how those who perpetrated gross mortgage fraud are getting away with it under the Bush administration.
The article is entitled, F.B.I. Struggles to Handle Wave of Financial Fraud Cases:
Since 2004, F.B.I. officials have warned that mortgage fraud posed a looming threat, and the bureau has repeatedly asked the Bush administration for more money to replenish the ranks of agents handling nonterrorism investigations, according to records and interviews. But each year, the requests have been denied, with no new agents approved for financial crimes, as policy makers focused on counterterrorism.
According to previously undisclosed internal F.B.I. data, the cutbacks have been particularly severe in staffing for investigations into white-collar crimes like mortgage fraud, with a loss of 625 agents, or 36 percent of its 2001 levels.
National security certainly is important, but go to some of the communities that have been decimated by foreclosures caused by corrupt activities that could have been contained by prompt investigations and convictions. Some of these are as destroyed as if a small nuclear bomb had been exploded, with people who lose their homes turned into refugees.
The article continues:
Justice Department officials have repeatedly asserted the administration’s commitment to fight violent and white-collar crime even as they have not provided the bureau additional resources.
But current and former officials say Mr. Mueller has lost a behind-the-scenes battle with the Justice Department and the Office of Management and Budget to replenish the criminal ranks.
Interviews and internal records show that F.B.I. officials realized the growing danger posed by financial fraud in the housing market beginning in 2003 and 2004 but were rebuffed by the Justice Department and the budget office in their efforts to acquire more resources.
Obama campaign take note:
However we get out of this economic disaster, the cost to the fabric of our nation...fiscally as well as in damage to the trust in our government will be severe. The public wants those responsible to be punished; and you can vow to make this happen. This restraint of the FBI is consistent with the administration's Republican anti government ideology, shared by their current nominee. You must vow to pursue these white collar criminals with an effort proportional to the vast damage of their crimes.
Civil and criminal prosecutions against those whose fraud lead to this disaster is what the public demands; and this article shows that the current administration has actually thwarted this. While the solution to the damage done by this fraud will be difficult to achieve, justice to those who caused it can be sure and swift.
If there is a ever time for this campaign to reflect the public's outrage, it is now.