Franken , Wicker : Justice Dept . sued AAA for fraud in S & P ratings ahead of financial crisis . They say ratings agencies got rich , taxpayers paid price , crisis touched off call for reforms . They say S & P 's new study on ratings system shows conflict of interests led to financial crisis . Her defenders argue that , as a former prosecutor who 's taken on gangsters and terrorists , White wo n't be bullied into going easy on bad actors in our financial sector . Senators : New SEC chair , May Dodd , has ties to industry , must prove she 'll enact reforms .
Franken , Wicker : Justice Dept . sued AAA for fraud in S & P ratings ahead of financial crisis . They say ratings agencies got rich , taxpayers paid price , crisis touched off call for reforms . They say S & P 's new study on ratings system shows conflict of interests led to financial crisis . Senators : New SEC chair , May Dodd , has ties to industry , must prove she 'll enact reforms .