The Politics of My Trial (KEN LAY, WaPo)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50986-2004Aug31.html

The Politics of My Trial
By Ken Lay

Wednesday, September 1, 2004; Page A19


(snip)

At my request, my lawyers have filed motions in federal court asking for an immediate and speedy trial on the charges I face. To facilitate this, I offered to forgo discovery and to waive a jury trial, leaving it to a judge to determine my guilt or innocence.

Why, then, is the Department of Justice not willing to agree to an immediate and speedy trial? Could it be that my indictment -- curiously issued two weeks before the Democratic National Convention -- is largely political?

(snip)

Comey described the Enron investigation as the most prominent among those being overseen by this presidential task force. He said: "Our joint mission is to bring corporate criminals, corporate crooks to justice in this country."

(snip)

Now, I know about politics. I have been active for years and I ask neither sympathy nor special treatment. But justice is a different issue. The tragic circumstances surrounding the collapse of Enron and the harm it caused to so many victims is something I will take to my grave. My inability to save Enron is one of my greatest regrets. But I am guilty of no crime and eager to prove my innocence. Our Constitution guarantees justice and a speedy trial. Yet, without the agreement of the president's task force, as hard as I may try, I may not be granted either.

(snip)

The writer was chairman and chief executive of Enron.
© 2004 The Washington Post Company

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: (the "NoPity" String Quartet)

[brook]

1. Read this and thought....

is this a sign that a Kerry Win is in the air? Does Lay want to get convicted in time to be pardoned - or what?

[MrBenchley]

3. Reads that way to me too....

Also reads between the lines as a threat to Junior Flyboy and his gang....after all, he also knows what people said to HIM behind closed doors...

[MrBenchley]

2. Poor poor pitiful me....

"The tragic circumstances surrounding the collapse of Enron and the harm it caused to so many victims is something I will take to my grave." But the dough I swiped is safe and sound in the Cayman Islands.....

[brook]

4. For those who may have missed this...

because I think it's worth reading.

:kick: