Título: Chris Dodd
Seção: Countrywide Financial loan controversy
Background: Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lobbyist, lawyer, and Democratic Party politician who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut for a thirty-year period from 1981 to 2011. Dodd is a Connecticut native and a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, and Providence College. His father, Thomas J. Dodd, was also a United States Senator from 1959 to 1971. Chris Dodd served in the Peace Corps for two years prior to entering the University of Louisville School of Law, and during law school concurrently served in the United States Army Reserve.

Conteúdo: In his role as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee Dodd proposed a program in June 2008 that would assist troubled sub-prime mortgage lenders such as Countrywide Financial in the wake of the United States housing bubble's collapse. Conde Nast Portfolio reported allegations that in 2003 Dodd had refinanced the mortgages on his homes in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut through Countrywide Financial and had received favorable terms due to being placed in the "Friends of Angelo" VIP program, so named for Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo. Dodd received mortgages from Countrywide at allegedly below-market rates on his Washington, D.C. and Connecticut homes. Dodd had not disclosed the below-market mortgages in any of six financial disclosure statements he filed with the Senate or Office of Government Ethics since obtaining the mortgages in 2003.  Dodd's press secretary said "The Dodds received a competitive rate on their loans", and that they "did not seek or anticipate any special treatment, and they were not aware of any", then declined further comment. The Hartford Courant reported Dodd had taken "a major credibility hit" from the scandal. At the same time, the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Kent Conrad and the head of Fannie Mae Jim Johnson received mortgages on favorable terms due to their association with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo. The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and two Connecticut papers have demanded further disclosure from Dodd regarding the Mo

user: What was the Countrywide Financial loan controversy?

assistant: troubled sub-prime mortgage lenders such as Countrywide Financial in the wake of the United States housing bubble's collapse.

user: What role did Dodd play in the controversy?

assistant: Dodd received mortgages from Countrywide at allegedly below-market rates on his Washington,

user: Did he get mortgages from them for more than one property?

assistant: Dodd had not disclosed the below-market mortgages in any of six financial disclosure statements he filed

user: Was there a specific reason Countrywide gave him such a favorable rate?

assistant: did not seek or anticipate any special treatment, and they were not aware of any",

user: Was he censured for accepting the loans?

assistant: The Hartford Courant reported Dodd had taken "a major credibility hit" from the scandal.

user: Was there an investigation or punishment by the Senate?

assistant: On August 7, 2009, a Senate ethics panel issued its decision on the controversy.

user: What was the decision of the ethics panel?

assistant: The Select Committee on Ethics said it found "no credible evidence"

user: Did he issue a public apology for his actions?

assistant: Once you became aware that your loans were in fact being handled through a program with the name 'V.I.P.,' that should have raised red flags for you."