Enron/Watkins/Skilling-3:`I Never Duped Ken Lay'-Skilling
26 Feb 11:06
Watkins was testifying on a witness panel that includes Skilling and current
Enron President Jeff McMahon.
Skilling is appearing at the hearing willingly and actively sought to counter
Watkins' statements before the House Feb. 13 that Skilling was aware of the
details of questionable off-the-books partnerships that led to Enron's
downfall, according to his attorney.
Skilling came out swinging in his opening statement, denying that he lied to
Congress or that he "duped" Lay as Watkins said in her House testimony.
He also criticized the House Energy and Commerce Committee's hearings earlier
this month as a "politicized process" that tarnished the reputations of
"innocents."
Calling for "common decency" and "common sense" to prevail in Congress's
review of Enron's collapse, Skilling admonished the Senate committee, saying
"the framers of the Bill of Rights are watching," in an apparent illusion to
the Constitutional right to be presumed innocent before being proved guilty.
"I haven't lied to the Congress or anyone else. I never duped Ken Lay,"
Skilling said, adding he had no idea of what formed the basis of Watkins'
opinion. He also said he didn't believe his House testimony was contradicted by
testimony presented to the House committee by Jeffrey McMahon, Enron's current
president, or Jordan Mintz, an Enron general counsel.
"I am not a victim here," Skilling said, "I am not a perpetrator, either."
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., assured Skilling that decency and common sense
would prevail, but lamented that the truth behind Enron's collapse has been
"elusive." Dorgan cited internal investigations by Enron's board of directors
that concluded the lack of oversight and controls of conflicts of interest
associated with the partnerships was "appalling," and added "that seems to me
to be at odds with your testimony."
(MORE) DOW JONES NEWS 02-26-02
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