Developments leading to US lawsuit against Corzine

Federal regulators are suing Jon Corzine, accusing the former New Jersey governor and U.S. senator of misusing customers' money while he was CEO of brokerage firm MF Global.

Here are key events, beginning with Thursday's lawsuit filed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission:

— June 27, 2013: The CFTC files a civil lawsuit against Corzine, seeking unspecified penalties and a ban on trading in the futures market; MF Global agreed to pay a $100 million penalty as part of a settlement.

— April 22: The trustee in MF Global's bankruptcy case sues Corzine and other former executives, charging that their risky practices led to the company's collapse.

— Nov. 15, 2012: The House financial services subcommittee pins most of the blame for MF Global's failure on Corzine, although it also criticizes credit-rating agencies and federal regulators.

— June 4: The trustee overseeing liquidation of MF Global says in a court filing that he might sue Corzine.

— Dec. 15, 2011: Corzine finishes three days of testimony before Congress on his company's collapse, saying he never intended to misuse clients' money and didn't order anyone else to do so.

— Dec. 2, 2011: A congressional committee votes to subpoena Corzine; Capitol Hill historians say it's the first time since 1908 that lawmakers subpoenaed a former senator.

— Oct. 31, 2011: MF Global files for bankruptcy protection after a $6.3 billion gamble on European debt turns into disaster. About $1.2 billion is found missing from accounts of clients including farmers and ranchers who expected the company to lower their risk from volatile farm-commodity prices.

— March 23, 2010: MF Global announces that its board hired Corzine as chairman and CEO. The former Goldman Sachs chief hopes to boost MF Global's modest profile on Wall Street.

— Nov. 3, 2009: Corzine, a Democrat, loses his bid for a second term as New Jersey governor when he is defeated by Republican Chris Christie.