Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo
Well, here’s a silver lining. With the first positive news in days for the company, Goldman Sachs announced that its first-quarter earnings had doubled to $3.3 billion from a year earlier. The financial giant, still reeling from a civil fraud lawsuit by the SEC, showed that it had again outperformed its competitors and remained on top after weathering the financial crisis. Meanwhile, the bank is bracing itself for the SEC’s onslaught. "In light of recent events involving the firm, we appreciate the support of our clients and shareholders, and the dedication and commitment of our people," Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein said in a statement, without directly mentioning the suit. Late Monday night, the company announced that it had enlisted the help of former White House Counsel Gregory Craig to help deal with the ins and outs of the Washington machine.