Huffington Post – WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has authorized big payouts to banks in an effort to encourage mortgage modifications, but is preventing borrowers in danger of losing their homes from accessing legal assistance under the Obama administration's foreclosure relief plan — even when banks are wrongfully or fraudulently attempting evictions.

As of August, the administration's foreclosure prevention program — which had paid a total of $231.5 million to banks — had paid nothing specifically for borrower's legal fees, despite the urging of congressional Democrats who say legal funding is critical to easing the crisis.

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