WASHINGTON — The chief of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged today to skeptical congressional interrogators the company's multibillion bonuses to employees were "distasteful" to many Americans including himself and that "I share that anger."

Lawmakers from both parties expressed fury over the company's behavior.

"Mistakes were made at AIG on a scale few could have every imagined possible," Edward Liddy, chairman and chief executive officer of the American International Group, said in prepared testimony.

But, he told a House Financial Services subcommittee, the $165 million in bonuses paid out over the weekend should be honored as a legal commitment of the United States government, which now owns 80 percent of the battered insurer.

"When you owe someone money, you pay that money back," he said. "We at AIG want to believe that we are all in this together," said Liddy, who was named six months ago to take over the company as part of the government rescue. Some $170 billion in tax money has now been pledged to AIG.

Liddy's stance on this issue drew sharp comments from both sides.

It is "time for us to assert our ownership rights," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the full committee. Frank said Congress will be asking for the names of the bonus recipients, but if AIG declines to provide it, he will convene the committee to vote a subpoena for the names.

By The Associated Press