Bop’s thoughts “on the smoking gun may be difficult to find”, however that is not my belief, as the cumulative and collective facts from all parties will piece the puzzle together for a strong circumstantial case or a conspiracy, which will be tossed over to the DOJ to prove out. Why spend WMI dollars when you can have the government come in with there raptors and get (more) info than WMI could, not to mention an unlimited pocket book.
I have also called for a Trustee to be in place by the end of the year, as that’s the only way this BK will eventually be resolved and it may play out first in JMW court and then afterwards in both civil and criminal courts depending on the plaintiff’s complaint. Class Actions lawsuits could be enormous as they could represent almost every party that was defrauded in one way or another. In other words, every shareholder, Pfd, bondholder, etc who sold out prematurely.
If the DOJ proves it out, all the companies involved and miscreants will be facing very damaging civil suits that will break there backs, financially and professionally. Settlements will come in waves.
As I see it, in concurrence with BOP, WGM is in very big trouble and Rosen is the first chump they throw into the water to appease the posse, but there will be more sanctions and fines to follow. On the first of Nov., Rosen’s as DOA as his DS/POR. And, A&M might as well book a double coffin with WGM as they are tied to the hip on this one.
IMHO, Forget Quinn Emanuel, who were duped into this fiasco, as well as Blackstone ($1 million for an accounting job worth less than what H&B charges for a year end tax filing), mere hand-slapping and maybe testimony against WGM and A&M,..although they may be giving back there payday to the estate and avoid further civil charges.
Another culprit not talked about is Kosturos who controlled the entire executive posts and the BOD of WMI. He is a major participant in constructing this fraud and also the weakest link and he will have no support from anyone, including the help from that giant O&D insurance package that Rosen set up for him last year, on the grounds that fraud has occurred. I think he will suffer an incredibly dismal fate of fines, jail time and endlessly being named in complaints. The dollars he tried to heist from the estate are in the class of Madoff, Ebbers, etc., certainly enough to buy him 10 years at the minimum and why not have this flunky take most of the heat. Remember, this devious plan could not have happened without his agreement, participation or possibly “direction”.
Sheila will exhibit "blatant shock" at the Examiner's disclosure of such evil intentions and while she walks away from the mess, she will surely have to sidle up to Sussman and the EC to make sure her position on the final price from JPM is in accord with what is needed to facilitate a real GS..and she will do this with out chipping the enamel on her nails. In the end, she survives standing on Jamie's head, well out of the dangerous currents.
And, as I have said before, Jamie is the big bag-holder but may use his fortunes to avoid the clink. Although, the DOJ may be interested in bagging one of the biggest heads to hang in there trophy room to show that they are indeed there to protect the “small people”, Fines yes, dollars coughed up yes, but “don’t acknowledge or deny“ is a big maybe. At this time, he has no friends in the WH and that may tip his fate into a “full tilt boogie” trial? One never knows, do one!
We will have a few more answers to where this goes by Nov 1st…nuff said.