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Back to To the Point

To the Point

JP Morgan Chase: A Record Penalty or a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card?

What does it take to get America's biggest bank to agree to what looks like the biggest civil penalty in American history?  Four hours before the Justice Department was planning to announce civil charges against JP Morgan Chase, the CEO Jamie Dimon called an aide to Attorney General Eric Holder.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

What does it take to get America's biggest bank to agree to what looks like the biggest civil penalty in American history? Four hours before the Justice Department was planning to announce civil charges against JP Morgan Chase, the CEO Jamie Dimon called an aide to Attorney General Eric Holder. After five direct phone calls and a personal meeting, Dimon and Holder worked out a deal. America's biggest bank agreed to the biggest civil penalty in American history for its role in the Great Recession: $13 billion. But critics say it's not what it seems. Pension funds, retirees with 401(k)'s and even bank shareholders may not see a penny. The government still has the option of criminal prosecution, but will the real masters of Wall Street fraud ever be held accountable?

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Andrea Brody

    Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

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    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Ben Protess

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    Dennis Kelleher

    Better Markets

  • KCRW placeholder

    Joshua Rosner

    Graham Fisher & Company

    NewsNationalPolitics
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