Countrywide won influence with discounts: Sen. Kent Conrad among congressmen treated to VIP loan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The former Countrywide Financial Corp., whose subprime loans helped start the nation’s foreclosure crisis, made hundreds of discount loans to buy influence with members of Congress, congressional staff, top government officials and executives of troubled mortgage giant Fannie Mae, according to a House report.

By: Larry Margasak, The Dickinson Press