Criminal Probe of Spill To Focus on 3 Firms and Ties To Regulators

"A team of federal investigators known as the 'BP squad' is assembling in New Orleans to conduct a wide-ranging criminal probe that will focus on at least three companies and examine whether their cozy relations with federal regulators contributed to the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, according to law enforcement and other sources."

Jerry Markon reports for the Washington Post July 28, 2010.