Last week a letter surfaced from Washington indicating that Countrywide made 173 "VIP" loans, with preferential terms, to executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The letter was from Congressman Darrell Issa, Ranking Member of House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and requested the Federal Housing Finance Agency to open an investigation. Alternatively, he asked Alfred Pollard, FHFA General Counsel, if he believed the matter should be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.