Questioning Pelosi: Steve Kroft heads to D.C.

By: Overtime Staff
Topics: Correspondent Candids

"Nobody would talk to us." That's what 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft says happened when he tried to get members of Congress to talk about "insider trading" on Capitol Hill.

It turns out that it is not illegal for member of Congress to make stock trades using inside information they learn while working on legislation, and Steve had some questions about some specific stock trades.

Since nobody involved would give him an interview, Steve had to find other ways to get some answers. As you'll see on Overtime this week, Steve looked for some lawmakers at their homes, attempted to track others down in their offices, and finally ended up asking questions at press conferences held by Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner.

"You don't like to do that stuff," Kroft tells Overtime producer David Rubin. "But on the other hand, if they don't want to talk to you and they don't want to give you an interview, and they are in powerful positions and play a prominent role in the story that you're doing, then you feel like sometimes you've got to do it."

Steve's 60 Minutes piece, Insiders, was produced by Ira Rosen and Gabrielle Schonder.

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by olvima January 27, 2012 9:21 PM EST: HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? HOW????? Our family and the rest of the country LOST so much money because after 20 years, companaies pay its employees with OPTIONS (I call them IOU's)....and THESE people had private meetings to access "non-public information", these people were WARNED by non other than Paulson and Bernanke....so they had TIME to sell their stock???????? There should be a class action suit against all of them...this is pure and simple insider trading and no matter what laws are created especially for them....the basic laws against criminal intent that ALL americans must follow should apply to members of congress and OVERRULE any law that they have so conveniently created....if they kill someone....is there a special legistlation for that too? Or is it just for anything involving money that they have a special law, just for them???? THIS is Disgusting, it makes me sick to think that these people were warned, while the rest of us, millions of us, lost so much...I'm at a loss for words right now.; Reply to this comment


by ppss29 January 25, 2012 4:06 PM EST: I am visiting part of my family in South America right now - and this subject is HUGE amongst the Ex-Pats. Last night the President addressed this in his State of the Union address - and I hold little hope anything will happen. The word for this was Graft.....which was a negative word for a negative behavior - what happened? Where are our morals? What is the world is happening. The book "Throw Them All Out" is the perfect answer to start the ball rolling.... what a corrupted twisted government we have created. They say you get the government you deserve - well that alone speaks volumes. Thanks only to 60 minutes, has ANY consideration for the negative effects been opened up on this subject. Our poor State Senator from Washington did his best - and I guess that tells all of us how uninterested our "Government" is in taking care of "We the people"...... no they continue to only take care of themselves....sick immoral people.... Throw them all out!; Reply to this comment


by newmexicomom December 24, 2011 8:51 PM EST: Duke_of_url said securities law does not exclude members of congress to insider trading. Where do we start? How about a class action suit against Pelosi? I'm sure there are some people who have lost their homes who would be willing to do this. Duke it out in court, find out what is true. I'll bet there are lawyers who would take the case pro bono. If not, we could start a fund to help them. Pelosi and her gang of thugs should pay back all they've made and go to jail.; Reply to this comment


by topaz2022 December 14, 2011 2:31 PM EST: Mr. Kroft the statement that you do not like to investigate our government people in Washington...for coruption ...

Tells me that you are not doing a good job of informing the
American People of the theives and criminals that are passing bills in their personal self interest and not passing bills designed to help and to protect the American People from coruption in government...

You should not be excepting this type of assignment...
You are just reporting what you have too..With out digging into the depth of the coruption that put the American People in this mess while they worked and paid their taxes..

You do not seem to mind the fact that coruption in government has destroyed the homes, jobs, etc...of the American middle -class people...Or how could you feel uncomfortable going after those responsible if not by doing personally but through knowledge of the wrong doing that has put the American People on their knees..

Your position of being in the top 1% is now a fact in more ways that just $$$ and cents....; Reply to this comment


by rdirienz December 4, 2011 7:00 AM EST: Thank you for a great report! I haven't watched 60 minutes for quite some time because the show has become so partisan, but I saw a segment on Dr. Mercola's website. The only comment I have is that every Republican rep was labeled as such but any Democrats were just given their name. If I hadn't looked up the reps (other than Pelosi) I would have thought it was purely a Republican problem when it is across the board - no party exempt. By keeping this going and NOT favoring which party gets 'revealed' you can do much to help the country get back where it belongs.; Reply to this comment


by CBSforal77 December 4, 2011 2:22 AM EST: Thank you for this story. Please stay on this issue.; Reply to this comment


by bankersvox November 27, 2011 9:47 PM EST: Something to be proud of. Great job.; Reply to this comment


by pleasebbetter November 26, 2011 5:02 PM EST: Any investigative report that helps shine light upon the closed corridors of power is welcome. However if not already discussed here, an 11/14/11 article by Ryan Grim (Huffington Post, about this 60 Minutes piece) should also be considered. (URL follows. This comment poster has no connection with Mr. Grim or his story publisher.)

Did Steve Croft's report omit some pertinent details?

URL for article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/60-minutes-pelosi-boehner_n_1091656.html; Reply to this comment


by JohnRandolph November 25, 2011 2:09 PM EST: Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Steve Kroft and 60 Minutes for your this alarming story and two other just as alarming stories (Master Thief Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Republican Cartel Leader Grove Norquist).

Please keep them coming, and OWS!; Reply to this comment


by br135 November 22, 2011 10:36 AM EST: If congress can act on insider stock information and acquire stocks for personal gain why not raise taxes substantially of everyone in congress-AND the lobbyists, because they are the ones who got us in this financial mess in the first place! Why is it always the true taxpayers that suffer? Warren Buffet said he doesn't really pay his fair share in taxes, perhaps along with many others. This would be a great start in the reduction of our tremendous debt.; Reply to this comment

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