Actually, turns out the guy was a major critic of ENE's off-balance sheet debt plan...and he was scheduled to testify before Congress. I certainly wouldn't be quick to assume he was the one who pulled the trigger!
quote.bloomberg.com
01/25 13:28
Former Enron Executive Baxter Kills Self, Police Say (Update2)
By Chitra Somayaji
Sugar Land, Texas, Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Former Enron Corp. Vice Chairman John Clifford Baxter, who criticized secret partnership agreements that bankrupted the energy trader and spawned federal investigations, committed suicide, said police in Sugar Land, Texas. He was 43.
Baxter's body was found in his car at 2:23 a.m. with ``an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,'' according to a statement e-mailed by police to Bloomberg News. ``Baxter was dead at the scene and the sole occupant of the vehicle. A suicide note was found at the scene.''
Baxter, who helped build Enron's wholesale energy trading business, resigned in May after a decade with the company. He had clashed with former Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Skilling and ``complained mightily'' about the ``inappropriateness'' of partnerships used to keep debt off Enron's books, Vice President Sherron Watkins said in a letter released by U.S. investigators.
Baxter was one of six Enron directors named as defendants in at least 40 investor lawsuits claiming the company concealed losses that led to Enron's bankruptcy filing on Dec. 2.
``We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, Cliff Baxter,'' Enron said in a faxed statement. ``Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.''
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Baxter made $42.4 million from selling nearly 654,000 shares of Enron stock over the past four years, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. He was responsible for strategy, including acquisitions and divestitures, spokeswoman Karen Denne said at the time of Baxter's resignation.
Baxter was named Enron's chief strategy officer in June 2000. Before that, he was chairman and chief executive of Enron North America.
Baxter and his wife gave $10,000 to the Republican National Committee in the last election cycle, according to FECInfo, which tracks campaign finance.
Baxter served five years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a captain in 1985. He attended New York University and Columbia University business school. He was born in Amityville, New York.
Mark Frevert, Baxter's successor, left the company at the end of December.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee had planned to subpoena Baxter, Representative Jim Greenwood said. He declined to say why or what the committee would ask Baxter.
Sugar Land is a small community southwest of Houston.
I'm sure there are lots of folks within Enron, Arthur Andersen, and the Bush administration who did not want to hear Baxter's views aired publically (to say the least). |
