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Thain Accuses BofA of Lying About Bonuses

Fired Merill CEO tries to 'set the record straight' about $3.6B payout

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2009 8:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – In his first lengthy interview since being pushed out as CEO of Merrill Lynch, John Thain tells the Wall Street Journal that Bank of America—which acquired Merrill in September—is lying about its involvement in the $3.6 billion in bonus payouts that made Thain the poster boy for corporate greed. “Getting fired is one thing,” Thain said. “But nobody has the right to say things that they know aren't true.”

Thain, 53, says BofA chief Ken Lewis sacked him as a scapegoat for Merrill's awful fourth-quarter results, when in actuality he was “completely transparent” about the investment bank's books. “I want to set the record straight,” Thain says, though his colleagues on Wall Street see an uphill battle: Notes John Reed, former head of Citigroup, “Right now, John is radioactive.”

Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain leaves the building that houses the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Feb. 24, 2009 in New York.
Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain leaves the building that houses the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Feb. 24, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo)
In this 2008 file photo, former Merrill Lynch executive John Thain speaks during a news conference in New York. Thain resigned from Bank of America in January.
In this 2008 file photo, former Merrill Lynch executive John Thain speaks during a news conference in New York. Thain resigned from Bank of America in January.   (AP Photos)
In this 2008 file photo, former Merrill Lynch executive John Thain, left, and Bank of America chairman and CEO Ken Lewis shake hands following a news conference in New York.
In this 2008 file photo, former Merrill Lynch executive John Thain, left, and Bank of America chairman and CEO Ken Lewis shake hands following a news conference in New York.   (AP Photos)
Merrill Lynch chairman and CEO John Thain, left, and Bank of America chairman and CEO Ken Lewis, smile at a news conference Sept. 15, 2008, in New York.
Merrill Lynch chairman and CEO John Thain, left, and Bank of America chairman and CEO Ken Lewis, smile at a news conference Sept. 15, 2008, in New York.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Observer
Apr 27, 2009 2:10 AM CDT
Yeah - and we are supposed to...like...trust ANY of these guys? Sure thing.

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