Congress opens hearings on meltdown

WASHINGTON -- Three days after providing a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street, Congress is holding its first hearing into what caused the nation's financial markets to collapse last month.

Monday's hearing by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will focus on Lehman Brothers, the giant investment bank that declared bankruptcy three weeks ago, setting off a panic that within days had President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson asking Congress to pass the rescue plan.

The star witness is expected to be Lehman chief executive officer Richard Fuld. He is sure to be asked about why the government let his company go under after coming to the aid of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and later insurance giant American International Group.