District Judge Jed Rakoff, the son of a gynecologist whose research helped develop the contraceptive pill - with all the vividness of a biographer. But he also fleshes out the backstories of those involved - for instance, U.S. Eisinger is a wonk, and gleefully he wonks out: He examines culprits like Lehman Brothers and laws like Dodd-Frank with equal fascination. But the book focuses its lens on the corporate bungling and greed of the past few years, most notably the 2008 financial crisis and its roots in Wall Street's web of risky investments and banking malfeasance - all enabled by loose regulatory enforcement, cozy Washington connections, and the implicit promise of government bailouts.

attorney Preet Bharara and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates - both fired by the Trump administration - are placed in a broader context that sheds light on possible ulterior motives for their dismissals. The Chickenshit Club, the latest book from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jesse Eisinger, unravels a culture of cowardice, incompetence and corruption - one that has allowed the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and above all the Department of Justice to flounder in their efforts to hold not only the government, but America's financial institutions, accountable for their crimes.Ĭomey may be the gateway into Eisinger's story, but its cast of players expands widely from there. Comey's dismissal from the FBI in May of this year - along with his subsequent Senate testimony - has placed him in a position to help uncover a scandal that threatens to eclipse Watergate. Following his controversial handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails while she was Secretary of State, the former director of the FBI has become a key witness in the probe into the Trump campaign. James Comey has become a household name over the past few months, and for good reason. Your purchase helps support NPR programming.

Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title The Chickens- Club Subtitle Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives Author Jesse Eisinger

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