A news station out of New York launched an investigation into how politicians and political insiders named as court appointees to handle foreclosure sales handle the responsibility.

The outcome of the investigation: WNYC, the news station, said the process seems compromised by a genuine lack of oversight and irregularities.

The role of foreclosure referee is generally an appointed attorney that decides what is owed while overseeing a foreclosure auction sale.

The news station’s investigation reveals concerns about how the process is handled in the wake of a New York State Senator facing embezzlement accusations after serving as a foreclosure referee.