Judge says lawyers for US bondholders can seek information about new Argentina bond offering

A New York judge says lawyers for U.S. bondholders who are owed money by Argentina can seek information about a new bond offering the South American country has arranged.

Judge Thomas Griesa (grih-ZAY') said at a hearing Wednesday that the lawyers are entitled to basic facts about the billion-dollar offering. He says the information will allow them to see if there is any money they can try to obtain to satisfy judgments totaling about $1.5 billion.

A lawyer for U.S. bondholders says the new bond offering might be an attempt to evade Griesa's orders. The judge has required Argentina to pay the U.S. creditors if they pay other bondholders.

A lawyer for Argentina says the new offering should not be subject to the court's orders.