By Kara Scannell in New York, Financial Times, Dec 18, 2011

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s civil fraud charges against six former Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives brings the total number of senior executives charged in connection with the financial crisis to 45, a statistic the agency is promoting as it seeks to rebuff criticism of its enforcement efforts [....]

The case comes as the SEC has been deflecting criticism from politicians and judges who have questioned the agency’s enforcement policies and its willingness to go after top executives tied to the crisis. [....]

Also see:

US investigators join forces in mortgage probe
By Shahien Nasiripour in New York, Financial Times, Dec 19, 2011

The federal watchdog overseeing US mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is joining forces with New York’s attorney-general to investigate banks’ mortgage securitisation practices, a partnership that could make it easier for authorities to bring fraud charges against Wall Street companies. [....]