“There was no red flag to me [that] we were getting special treatment,” Dodd told reporters at a news conference.

The Connecticut Senator said he never asked what VIP status meant, but said he assumed it was bestowed on him because he held an existing mortgage with Countrywide.

Dodd said he has no plans to refinance the loans elsewhere. Countrywide is to be acquired by Bank of America.

“We don’t believe we did anything wrong. We negotiated a mortgage,” Dodd contended.