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American Morning

Skilling Expected to Surrender to Authorities in Houston

Aired February 19, 2004 - 07:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Money news now, the surrender of another high ranking Enron executive is expected. Does it mean that prosecutors are getting to the bottom of the scandal?
Andy checks in right now, minding your business. News again today.

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you.

We're certainly getting there, eventually, to the bottom of the scandal. Let's get to the headline right away.

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling will be surrendering to the FBI today in Houston. This, according to published reports in the "Houston Chronicle." A sealed indictment was handed down yesterday to the judge; sealed, so we don't know exactly what the charges are, probably fraud and obstruction. You know, this case has taken a long time to wend its way through the courts.

It all began when my colleague, Bethany McClain (ph), back in March of 2001, broke the story. The company filed for bankruptcy in December of that year and the following spring, Jeffrey Skilling and other Enron executives testified before Congress.

Let's listen to what Skilling had to say then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY SKILLING, FORMER CEO, ENRON: I take and will continue to take full responsibility for my actions as a senior executive of Enron Corporation. While I worked at Enron, I served the shareholders and the board of directors faithfully. When I left Enron on August 14th, I did not believe the company was in financial peril and I had no knowledge of any -- and had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by its employees.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERWER: Well, of course, the prosecutors will contend that that is not at all the case -- not only did he know, but he himself was involved in that wrongdoing -- Bill.

HEMMER: Got it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 19, 2004 - 07:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Money news now, the surrender of another high ranking Enron executive is expected. Does it mean that prosecutors are getting to the bottom of the scandal?
Andy checks in right now, minding your business. News again today.

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you.

We're certainly getting there, eventually, to the bottom of the scandal. Let's get to the headline right away.

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling will be surrendering to the FBI today in Houston. This, according to published reports in the "Houston Chronicle." A sealed indictment was handed down yesterday to the judge; sealed, so we don't know exactly what the charges are, probably fraud and obstruction. You know, this case has taken a long time to wend its way through the courts.

It all began when my colleague, Bethany McClain (ph), back in March of 2001, broke the story. The company filed for bankruptcy in December of that year and the following spring, Jeffrey Skilling and other Enron executives testified before Congress.

Let's listen to what Skilling had to say then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY SKILLING, FORMER CEO, ENRON: I take and will continue to take full responsibility for my actions as a senior executive of Enron Corporation. While I worked at Enron, I served the shareholders and the board of directors faithfully. When I left Enron on August 14th, I did not believe the company was in financial peril and I had no knowledge of any -- and had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by its employees.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERWER: Well, of course, the prosecutors will contend that that is not at all the case -- not only did he know, but he himself was involved in that wrongdoing -- Bill.

HEMMER: Got it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com