Commission gets tough, with a subpoena for Goldman Sachs

The documents and interviews were requested in connection with the probe by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which has been holding hearings to question financial executives and regulators

about the events that led to the government rescue of the banking industry.

Goldman spokesman Samuel Robinson said in a statement that "we have been and continue to be committed to providing the FCIC with the information they have requested."

Goldman chief executive Lloyd Blankfein was on a panel with three other bank chiefs that testified in January before the commission, which was appointed by the US Congress.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Goldman in April for civil fraud in connection with the structuring and sale of a $1bn (689m) collateralised debt obligation.

Disclosure concerns have followed the bank in recent months. It has been criticised for not immediately telling investors that it received a so-called Wells Notice from the SEC last September, signalling the possibility of civil charges.

The FCIC has shown a willingness to use its subpoena power.

In April it issued a subpoena to Moody's Corp, saying the company had failed to comply with a request for documents and interviews in a timely manner.

The FCIC also used a subpoena to compel Warren Buffett

to testify after the Berkshire Hathaway Inc chief rebuffed earlier requests to submit to voluntary questioning.