Romney's Bain Story Doesn't Match SEC Filings

Mitt Romney was Bain Capital's CEO up until 2002, or about three years longer than he's been publicly saying he was, according to documents filed with the SEC. Romney has said he left the firm in February 1999, in part to shield himself from criticism about Bain's later actions, like laying off workers or driving companies bankrupt. But the Boston Globe dug up documents listing him as "sole stockholder, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president."

They also found filings from four different business entities identifying him as Bain's boss; some say he had managerial control over five Bain units formed in January 2002. Romney officials say he was CEO in paperwork only, and wasn't actively involved in the firm, but a former SEC chairman dismisses that argument. "You can't say statements filed with the SEC are meaningless," he says, adding that if Romney wasn't at the helm, he could be sued by investors who thought he was. Romney's campaign released a statement today officially denying the Globe story, USA Today reports. (More Mitt Romney stories.)