The Crooked E...
Trial Goes to Jury"The fate of former Enron Chairman Ken Lay and former Chief Executive Officer Jeff Skilling, is now in the hands of a federal jury. Prosecutors completed their closing statements Wednesday."
"Defense lawyers emerged from the federal courthouse shortly after Federal Judge Sim Lake sent the case to the jury and expressed optimism about the outcome. One of Ken Lay's attorneys, Mac Secrest, said his client wants resolution of the case once and for all. 'Quite frankly, we are hoping that whatever the verdict is, that they reach a verdict. We do not want a hung jury,' said Mr. Secrest."
"But Assistant US Attorney Sean Berkowitz had the final word in finishing the prosecution's closing arguments Wednesday morning. He rejected the charge that government witnesses had been coerced. He said witnesses who had pleaded guilty in exchange for testimony were obligated under their plea agreements to tell the truth."
Berkowitz also attacked Skilling's use of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as an excuse for selling Enron stock. Prosecutors contend that Skilling sold stock to get his money out of the failing company even as he assured investors that all was well. Berkowitz said, "Mr. Skilling used our nation's tragedy to cover his tracks. That is offensive and he should not get away with it."
The federal prosecutor reviewed evidence with the jury that he said proved both Lay and Skilling had lied to analysts, investors and their own employees about the health of the company. Berkowitz said, "They withheld the truth and they put themselves before investors."
Junkyard Dog, Jr. Berkowitz concluded by saying,
Berkowitz also attacked Skilling's use of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as an excuse for selling Enron stock. Prosecutors contend that Skilling sold stock to get his money out of the failing company even as he assured investors that all was well. Berkowitz said, "Mr. Skilling used our nation's tragedy to cover his tracks. That is offensive and he should not get away with it."
The federal prosecutor reviewed evidence with the jury that he said proved both Lay and Skilling had lied to analysts, investors and their own employees about the health of the company. Berkowitz said, "They withheld the truth and they put themselves before investors."
Junkyard Dog, Jr. Berkowitz concluded by saying,
"You cannot buy justice."
Labels: Enron
posted by Patrick J. Fitzgerald at 5/17/2006
6 Comments:
Fitz is a busy busy man heading the Enron Task Force too!
The Ship is sinking and there is no one to rescue them. These guys are going down!
And we're stil waiting for that press confrence. ;-)
"Berkowitz said, "They withheld the truth and they put themselves before investors." And he is right.. Lay and Skilling withheld the truth from the investors as well as the Enron employees. What is disgraceful of Kenneth Lay is that when the stock market was plummetting, the Enron employee were told thru email that they were not allowed to pull out their money. That I have never heard of. Yet, Lay, Skilling, Fastow, Daddy Bush, The Gerbil, Cheney, and others were allowed to put their stocks out when the stock market was plummeting... Then, Lay tells the Enron employee when he pulled his stock that the Enron was doing right with a smile on his face and knew that the employees were going to lose their money... That is what I find very disgraceful for Lay and Skilling to withhold that information from the employees and investors.
Secondly, the state of California will always have huge hatred in their hearts for the smartest guys in the Enron room after hearing those tapes on how they swindled the Californians out of millions from electricity, bankrupt many small businesses and swindled money from CALPERS which is the biggest retirement fund in California... But, to blame 9/11 terrorist attack as an excuse... The stock market was already in shaky ground and consumer confidence was down before the terrorist attack. Let's not forget who took office in 2001.
Berkowitz will put both Lay and Skilling away. This case has been all along a case of greed, withholding the truth, concealing evidence and inflating and cooking the books.... And I wonder what exactly the conversation in which Lay had with Cheney in a board meeting... Remember, authorities wanted Cheney to hand over information and Cheney said tht he had executive privileges. And I wonder if that information will be further investigated once he becomes indicted in the leak case. Over all, I am glad that the case is coming to a close... But, Lay and Skilling don't have prayer... According the WSJ on the lawblog, 73% says that Lay and Sklling are guilty... The guilty verdict will be huge victory for the Berkowitz and team, the justice system, employees, investors, CALPERS, and Californians... All of them will never get back their money but it will send a strong message to other Enron "wannabe" companies of ever committing such graft.
One of the people involved in the phone jamming scandal is sentenced:
Tobin Sentenced to 10 months in Prison
By Paul Kiel - May 17, 2006, 4:47 PM
"James Tobin, the biggest fish in the New Hampshire phone jamming scandal so far, sentenced to 10 months in prison (minimum security recommended); 2 years probation, and a $10,000 fine."
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/
Basically, a slap in a wrist as far as I am concerned...
More of Jason Leoppold on Talk left.com:
Jason Leopold: Still Confident About Rove Indictment Article
"Jason told Schultz that on Saturday he got a phone call from his sources telling him that the action Friday was not at the courthouse, but at Patton Boggs. They provided an extraordinary level of detail about what took place at the law firm."
"Jason is continuing to receive new details. He said that yesterday, he was told that the entire 4th floor of Patton Boggs was locked down for the marathon meeting. He reiterated his prior information, that Rove was there with his secret service detail, that plea negotiations were going on which ultimately were rejected outright, after which he was given an envelope containing the Indictment and told he had 24 hours to get his affairs in order.
Jason said he believed by Saturday night, his article would break in the Washington Post, New York Times and other papers. He noted that yesterday, at Rove's NEI speech, only one reporter asked him about CIA leak case. No one had bothered to follow up on the story. No one asked him if he had been indicted."
"Jason says he confirmed the story with more than 2 sources. He says Knights- Ridder, MSNBC and ABC News now have one source for the story. "
"He said that these same sources are repsonsible for his being able to break the story about the 250 pages of e-mail documents turned over to Fitzgerald in February.
Schultz asked him if he thought he was being attacked by blogs because of jealousy. He responded that it's not jealousy, it's hatred."
"Jason said he does not believe he was set up. He still believes in his article, and reminds Ed that it said the indictment would be announced sometime this week."
"Jason also is checking on Fitzgerald's whereabouts Friday, and said he is going to check every vet within 20 miles of Luskin's house to see if he really was there with his cat.
Jason said he is upset that some have accused him of lying. He would have no motive to lie. His goal was to get the story, not to bs anyone."
And of course, Jason wouldn't bs anyone... Great job, Jason, defending yourself and your story... Looks like Jason is watching you Fitz to get the scoop...
Junkyard dog Jr. nice. Sean did good and he sealed the evil doers case. I also like the lady and the other young Proscutor they did good too. I wish Americans knew just how much we owe these Proscuters, the media doesn't give much news about them. I have to watch it on PBS to get the info. Tell Sean we're proud of him and his team too.
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