SEC Settlements Raise Questions about Watchdog's Teeth

A federal judge is still considering Citigroup's latest settlement of fraud charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citigroup did not have to admit wrongdoing and received a fine critics call "a slap on the wrist," that shareholders, not executives, will have to pay. It follows a familiar pattern — for Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup itself -- that has even some insiders asking who is the SEC working for? Is it protecting consumers or big banks? Why aren't company executives being hauled into court, especially if their practices helped bring about the collapse of the housing market?