Goldman Nears 1MDB Resolution With Effort to Avoid Guilty Plea

  • Top lawyer Seymour was outside counsel during Abacus probe
  • Prosecutors seek unit’s plea, penalty as high as $2 billion
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Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is in the final stages of resolving its biggest legal threat in a decade after tussling with the government on one critical issue: a potential guilty plea for the first time in Goldman’s history.

To avert such a penalty over its work for a Malaysian sovereign fund, Goldman has appealed to the Justice Department’s highest ranks. Attorney General William Barr began overseeing the case after obtaining a waiver because his former law firm represents Goldman. The department’s No. 2 official has also been directly involved.