Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2002

The increasing Congressional interest in the failure of Enron has put the pressure on the White House to release documents and records used to develop its national energy policy.

Vice President Dick Cheney has withheld the documents, which were requested by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). Cheney aides still believe holding onto them is legal but are worried the failure to release them could be seen as a coverup.

Cheney or his aides met with Enron executives six times last year, including meetings following the release of the energy plan. One meeting took place days before the Houston, Texas, company with close ties to President Bush had to restate its earnings, a move which led to its $1.3 billion bankruptcy, the largest in history.

Enron donated heavily to Democrat interests as well. With probes into the collapse totaling 10, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are distancing themselves from the company by returning Enron contributions or, in the case of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, donating $100,000 to a charity helping former Enron employees.

The Securities Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice's criminal division, the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service are also investigating.

In related news, the White House disclosed that the National Economic Council researched last fall the potential impact of Enron's collapstse on the economy but found little risk. Lawrence B. Lindsey, who heads the council, was a former consultant to Enron.

Get the Story:
Probe Raises Stakes on Energy Task Force Records (The Washington Post 1/17)
On the Hill, Probes Reach Double Digits (The Washington Post 1/17)
Legislators Rush to Dump Enron Money (The Washington Post 1/17)
White House Says Economics Adviser Saw Little Risk on Enron (The New York Times 1/17)
You may have to register to read New York Times stories. If you do not wish to register, login with username indianz.com and password indianz.com

Relevant Links:
Enron - http://www.enron.com/corp

Related Stories:
Andersen faces rocky future (1/16)
Enron warned of imploding situation (1/15)
Enron debate a political gamble (1/14)
Auditor Andersen's name in 'tatters' (1/14)
Enron subject of criminal investigation (1/10)
Cheney met with failed Enron Corp. (1/9)
Colo. tribe an Enron investor (1/7)
DOE sued for energy policy records (12/12)
GAO delaying Cheney challenge (11/9)
Cheney refuses request for documents (9/7)
Energy documents demanded of Bush (8/21)
Cheney won't give up energy records (8/6)
GAO ready to fight over energy probe (8/4)
Bush to release environmental documents (7/30)
Committee wants to subpoena Bush documents (7/25)
GAO demands Cheney energy policy records (7/19)
Cheney still not cooperating with probe (6/26)
Cheney not cooperating with GAO probe (6/19)
Hearing on secret energy meetings wanted (6/6)
Nation in dark about energy plan (5/16)
DOE wants task force documents secret (5/11)