I'm shocked

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo threatened to publicize the recipients' names, prompting executives at AIG Financial Products to hastily agree to return about $45 million in bonuses by the end of the year.

But as the final days of 2009 tick away, a majority of that money remains unpaid. Only about $19 million has been given back, according to a report by the special inspector general for the government's bailout program.
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Some of the employees who had offered to return their bonuses have instead left the company, taking their cash with them.

Dozens of employees have hired lawyers, bracing for a fight if AIG or government officials try to block the payments.

Cuomo has said little publicly in recent months about the AIG bonuses. On Tuesday, his office had no comment when asked about the payments.