GRASSLEY: On the issue of bank prosecution, I'm concerned that we have a mentality of too-big-to-jail in the financial sector of spreading from fraud cases to terrorist financing and money laundering cases -- and I cite HSBC. So I think we're on a slippery slope.

HOLDER: The concern that you have raised is one that I, frankly, share. And I'm not talking about HSBC now. That (inaudible) be appropriate. But I am concerned that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them when we are hit with indications that if you do prosecute, if you do bring a criminal charge, it will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy. And I think that is a function of the fact that some of these institutions have become too large.
This is better known as the "send one banker to jail, and the financial system crashes" defense.

Sadly, since nothing will change and the system is broken beyond repair and more corrupt with every day, it is an excuse that will be used extensively following the next, and far greater, financial crash.

Ifall någon fortfarande undrar vem det är som i verkligheten bestämmer.