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By Ben Geier May 13, 2014: 11:13 AM ET

By Ben Geier, reporter

FORTUNE -- The Obama administration may have more than two years left in office, but U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is making his last push to take action against Wall Street firms, theWall Street Journalreported Monday evening.

In the next few days, the Justice Department is expected to look for a guilty plea from Credit Suisse Group (CS), according to the Journal. Following that, the department expects tofinalize deals with Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), and BNP Paribas (BNPQY).

MORE: Big banks' annual meetings could be especially stormy

The settlements relate to various infractions committed by the banks; for instance, Bank of America's case relates to how it dealt with mortgage-backed securities going all the way back to the lead-up to the 2008 credit crisis.

Citi's situation also deals with mortgage-backed securities, while BNP Paribas is suspected of ignoring U.S. sanctions on other countries, including Iran.

"I am impatient," Mr. Holder told the Journal. "We're talking about conduct that contributed to the greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression. Not the sole cause, but contributed to it, so this is a priority, and that's why I'm dedicating so much time to it."

The story notes that Holder -- a frequent target of criticism from the right who has served in his role since the beginning of the Obama administration -- is expected to remain at his post through at least November's midterm elections.

Read more:
U.S. Attorney General closes in on multiple banks

WASHINGTON - Federal authorities announced a proposed $60 million settlement Tuesday in a lawsuit alleging that thousands of military servicemembers were charged excessive interest rates for student loans.

The legal action, the first of its kind filed against student loan owners and processors for alleged violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, involves about 60,000 servicemembers who were charged rates in excess of the maximum 6%.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the settlement involving Sallie Mae, now known as Navient, awaits approval by a federal judge in Delaware.

Holder said the lenders engaged in "a nationwide practice'' for nearly a decade that failed to provide military members the 6% rate.

"This alleged overcharging appears to have been the rule, rather than the exception,'' Holder said. "According to an audit, excessive rates were charged to 93% of active-duty servicemembers who had loans owned or serviced by Sallie Mae.''

If approved, proceeds of the settlement would be distributed among the 60,000 members.

The government alleged that the lenders improperly obtained default judgments against servicemembers who were protected under the Civil Relief Act.

As a result, the terms of the proposed deal require lenders to request that credit agencies delete any negative entries based on the interest overcharges and default judgments.

"This type of conduct is more than just inappropriate,'' Holder said. "It is inexcusable. And it will not be tolerated.''

Holder said lenders cooperated with the inquiry and endorsed the settlement proposal.

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Service members cheated on student loans

by KHOU.com staff

khou.com

Posted on May 13, 2014 at 7:12 PM

Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in six cities has resulted in charges against 90 individuals, including 27 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $260 million in false billings.

Medicare is a sacred compact with our nations seniors, and to protect it, we must remain aggressive in combating fraud, said Attorney General Holder. This nationwide Medicare Strike Force takedown represents another important step forward in our ongoing fight to safeguard taxpayer resources and to ensure the integrity of essential health care programs. Department of Justice will not tolerate these activities."

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly participated in schemes to submit claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessary and often never provided. In many cases, court documents allege that patient recruiters, Medicare beneficiaries and other co-conspirators were paid cash kickbacks in return for supplying beneficiary information to providers, so that the providers could then submit fraudulent bills to Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary or never performed.

Collectively, the doctors, nurses, licensed medical professionals, health care company owners and others charged are accused of conspiring to submit approximately $260 million in fraudulent billings.

Eleven individuals were charged by the Houston Medicare Strike Force. Five Houston-area physicians were charged with conspiring to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary home health services. According to court documents, the defendant doctors were paid by two co-conspirators to sign off on home health care services that were not necessary and often never provided.

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Medical Fraud Strike Force charges 5 Houston-area physicians for false billing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - San Diego Democrat Toni Atkins, whose Appalachian roots have given her a powerful affinity for the plight of the working poor, was sworn in Monday as the 69th speaker of the state Assembly.

Atkins assumes the reins of the 80-member chamber amid negotiations over a nearly $107 billion state budget and an $11 billion water bond that all sides want to change before it goes to a statewide vote in November. She praised the states efforts to retain businesses and a recent deal brokered by the governor and legislative leaders to revamp a rainy day fund to save money and pay down debt.

At the same time, the native of Virginias poor mountain region also implored lawmakers to invest in education and opportunity for poor and lower-income Californians. That is expected to cause tension in budget negotiations as lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown weigh restoring social services and paying down debt.

We cannot forget that too many Californians have not made it out of the recession, Atkins said in remarks after her swearing-in. Theyve been holding on with white knuckles, with so much at stake. Their dreams have been put on hold.

She identified affordable housing and ending homelessness as top personal priorities.

Atkins, 51, becomes the first open lesbian to lead a California legislative chamber and succeeds Los Angeles Democrat John Perez, who was the first openly gay lawmaker in the role. She was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, the first Democratic woman to lead the California Assembly, during a ceremony that was attended by the governor and Atkins wife, Jennifer LeSar, who consults on affordable housing.

In remarks on the floor before the swearing-in, Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, said Atkins rise to one of the most powerful positions in state government would be an inspiration.

There are many in the state today who are struggling to come to grips with their sexual orientations, he said. They will see in you hope and possibility.

Atkins was elected to the Assembly in 2010 after serving on San Diegos city council and will be termed out in two years. Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare issued a statement seeking bipartisan cooperation and noting that Atkins rise marks the first time a California legislative body had two female leaders.

Atkins takes office in a time when two Democratic state senators face federal corruption charges, prompting a flurry of reform legislation including a partial fundraising blackout during the legislative session and whistleblower protection for staff.

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Democrat Atkins sworn in as Assembly speaker

Cummings Floor Statement Opposing Republican Select Committee on Benghazi

By: OversightDems

Excerpt from:
Cummings Floor Statement Opposing Republican Select Committee on Benghazi - Video