Gov. O'Malley (MD) is shutting down all foreclosures for 60 days.

[Waiting For Everyman]

I haven't seen this reported anywhere yet, I got it just now because I'm a subscriber to the Governor's Office email list. Below is the text of the email, and then 2 pdf links from within it. One is a letter to Wells Fargo, the other is to the Maryland Chief Justice requesting the shutdown. It's also signed by all of MD's federal representatives. I'm a little surprised to see that in the CJ letter, the Gov. also goes further than the signing fraud, to questioning whether the banks even own the notes.

Email text:

October 12, 2010

A Message from the Governor

Protecting Working Families

Last week, we learned some disturbing news from some of the nation's largest mortgage lenders. Several lenders acknowledged that they have failed to follow proper procedures by filing affidavits in foreclosure cases without adequate personal knowledge of the underlying cases, potentially trampling laws that were designed specifically to protect homeowners in default.

I joined with Congressman Cummings and Attorney General Gansler to call on Maryland lenders to halt current and future foreclosure proceedings until Maryland homeowners can be assured that they're being treated fairly. Bank of America answered this request by announcing a halt in all foreclosure proceedings nationwide while it reviewed its internal processes.

Sadly, our request to the other Maryland lenders has gone unanswered. Therefore, this weekend, I joined with Maryland's entire Congressional delegation in a letter to Chief Judge Robert Bell, Maryland Court of Appeals, requesting that the courts take appropriate action to halt all foreclosures in Maryland temporarily, until Maryland homeowners can be assured they are being treated fairly.

We urge all other Maryland lenders to follow the example of Bank of America, and ensure that the homeowners of our state do not fall victim to similar improper filings. In the meantime, we stand firmly behind any action that the Court deems appropriate.

Martin O'Malley
Governor

Links:

http://www.governor.maryland.gov/documents/101004MoratoriumRequestLetters.pdf

http://www.governor.maryland.gov/documents/101009foreclosurerequest.pdf

___________

Needless to say, I'm a BIG fan of our Governor! :applause:

[tularetom]

1. Not only a good move also politically smart

Isn't he in the middle of a re election campaign against that Ehrlichman or whatever his name is?

This is a smart thing to do 3 weeks before election day.

Don't know why our Democratic administration feels they're so above playing a little politics with this mess. They could score a lot of points by doing something like this.

Actually I thought the question of whether the banks owned the notes WAS a big part of the fraud.

[Waiting For Everyman]

2. Owning the note is a big part of it, only usually not mentioned.

Gov. O'Malley is like this all the time though. I get his emails because they usually say which companies are adding new jobs (new contracts signed, programs started, etc.) His emails are actually useful.

But yes, do the right thing and get political points for it - WTH would anyone NOT do that?

[Angry Dragon]

3. Good for him