CHRIS DODD / COUNTRYWIDE UPDATE:

A new report showcases the lengths executives at Countrywide Financial went to in order to provide below-market mortgage rates to well-connected Washington insiders.

Countrywide’s CEO Angelo Mozilo granted sweetheart mortgages to a number of influential lawmakers including Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd, who is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and Democratic Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota. E-mails obtained by government investigators show Countrywide employees often discussed the political influence wielded by “Friends of Angelo” as grounds for granting the discounts.

No surprise there. And note the Kent Conrad mention. He seems to have managed to keep things under the radar on this.