OPINION:
Tom Fitton’s recent column misstates the facts and law surrounding the home mortgages of former Sen. Chris Dodd, Connecticut Democrat (“Crony capitalism, Countrywide and Congress,” Web, July 30).
While selectively citing the report of Rep. Darrell E. Issa, California Republican, Mr. Fitton ignores the bipartisan conclusions of the Senate Ethics Committee. After an exhaustive investigation, including reviewing 18,000 pages of documents and conducting a number of depositions, the Republicans and Democrats of the Senate Ethics Committee unanimously concluded that Mr. Dodd did not violate any law or rule of the Senate. They further concluded that Mr. Dodd did not receive any special deals, that his mortgages were market-rate and that he received no financial benefit not available to the general public. Mr. Fitton’s insinuations to the contrary are simply not correct.
Furthermore, Mr. Fitton ignores Mr. Dodd’s well-documented efforts to end the abusive practices of mortgage lenders and his work to pass a bipartisan bill to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
MARC ELIAS
Partner, Perkins Cole
BRYAN DEANGELIS
Former communications director
Former Sen. Chris Dodd, Connecticut Democrat
Washington
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