Watchdog Finds SEC Did Not Properly Vet Contractors

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission failed to properly investigate the possible criminal backgrounds of up to 70 contractors, including one who later assaulted his girlfriend, the agency's watchdog found in a previously unreleased investigative report.

In his semi-annual report to Congress last fall, the SEC's then-interim inspector general, Jon Rymer, noted the assault that took place at the agency's headquarters, and hinted that there were other contractors with possible criminal records on page 30 of his 54-page summary.