No Schumer probe

State AG Jerry Brown has decided not to pursue claims by former IndyMac employees that NY Sen. Charles Schumer triggered a run on the thrift. At issue was a widely leaked letter Schumer sent to federal officials that questioned IndyMac’s ability to survive. Several weeks later the company was taken over by regulators. While expressing regret at what happened and acknowledging that Schumer's comments might have accelerated public concern, the AG's office says there’s no way to prove any connection. Besides, Constitutional law gives wide leeway on what a member of Congress can say. There’s a dash of politics in this: A letter the IndyMac employees sent to Brown was distributed by a PR firm that represents Republican political groups. Brown and Schumer are Democrats. (Reuters, LABJ)