Paulson: BofA-Merrill Deal Saved US From 'Great Peril'

Actions saved nation from 'great peril,' he says
By Sarah Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 16, 2009 11:15 AM CDT
Paulson: BofA-Merrill Deal Saved US From 'Great Peril'
Then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson participates in a discussion about markets and climate change in Washington, Jan. 12, 2009.    (AP Photo)

Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says his role in Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch was appropriate and necessary, MarketWatch reports. “I am confident that our responses were substantially correct and that they saved this nation from great peril,” Paulson told a House oversight committee today in response to concerns he and the Fed ordered the deal against the will of BofA’s CEO.

Some Democratic lawmakers have questions for that CEO, Ken Lewis, too. Committee chair Edolphus Towns says he thinks Lewis was trying to “shake down” federal officials by agreeing to the deal in exchange for $20 billion in bailout funds. “Was Bank of America really forced to go through with this deal, or was this an old-fashioned shakedown?” Towns asked. (More Henry Paulson stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X