In a testament to the power of independent media, the award-winning public television show Frontline this week helped push a top Department of Justice (DOJ) official out the door.
On Tuesday, Frontline aired a report called "The Untouchables" detailing the DOJ's failure to prosecute the big banks for the 2008 financial meltdown and zeroing in on Lanny Breuer, the former White House legal counsel for Clinton who headed the DOJ's criminal division under Obama.
On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that Breuer was stepping down.
But this time around, the Frontline crew had unparalleled access to Breuer which generated a number of key revelations:
Frontline documented that Breuer/Holder failed to use the tools available to them to really dig.
On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that Breuer was stepping down.
Breuer's Legacy: Enshrining "Too Big to Jail" as Legal Precedent
Many had criticized Attorney General Eric Holder and Breuer for failing to take action against the mega banks on Wall Street, and watched with disbelief last December as the DOJ decided to pass on criminal penalties against HSBC for laundering drug money and helping to finance terrorists. The behemoth bank was ordered to pay a record civil fine, but no criminal charges were lodged against any HSBC official. A New York Times editorial called the decision a "dark day for the rule of law."But this time around, the Frontline crew had unparalleled access to Breuer which generated a number of key revelations:
Frontline documented that Breuer/Holder failed to use the tools available to them to really dig.
