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To: Softechie who wrote (1885)	2/26/2002 11:33:41 AM
From: Softechie	Respond to of 2155

Enron/Watkins/Skilling -4: Senators Skeptical Of Skilling 26 Feb 11:14 A measure of lawmakers' skepticism of Skilling's disavowal of involvement in his knowledge of the partnerships was clearly evident in Sen. Peter Fitzgerald's opening statement. Fitzgerald, R-Ill., drew a contrast between Skilling's willingness to testify and that of former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay, who invoked his fifth amendment right against potential self-incrimination before the committee earlier this month. "I have to believe that you're aware your voluntary appearance before this committee entails a measure of risk," Fitzgerald said. "I do however, approach your testimony with some skepticism," Fitzgerald said, citing Skilling's Feb. 7 testimony before the House, in which he disclaimed responsibility for the partnerships and "encouraged the perception" that former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow played a pivotal role in the collapse of the company." "If the theory is that Fastow went rogue somewhere deep in the jungles of Enron and was the sole agent of the apocalypse, I just don't buy it," Fitzgerald said. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said in her opening statement that she intended to grill Skilling about Enron's former power traders' allegations, first reported by Dow Jones Newswires, that Enron purposely "jammed" transmission lines in an effort to drive up prices during California's power crisis, which started in 2000. Boxer alluded to comments Skilling made in June 2000, when he joked that the difference between California and the Titanic was that the lights were on when the Titanic went down. "At the time you were making jokes about California ...," Boxer said, alluding to the state's mushrooming power costs and constant threats of blackouts, "the people in California weren't laughing." (MORE) DOW JONES NEWS 02-26-02 11:14 AM