Leahy: Enrongate Shredder Has FBI Contract

NewsMax.com ^ | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2001 11:03 a.m. EST | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[Jean S]

Arthur Andersen LLP, the company now battling for its survival in the wake of revelations that it shredded Enron documents last fall, has a $1 million contract with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that could give it access to information about the bureau's Enron probe, Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealed Wednesday.

"Now, unfortunately, the problem we're going to have is that Attorney General Ashcroft has also hired Arthur Andersen to do about a million-dollar review of the FBI for their reorganization," Leahy revealed in a Vermont radio interview.

The Vermont Democrat said that while he didn't disagree with the decision to hire a good accounting office to help revamp the bureau, he complained, "Unfortunately, Arthur Andersen now had access to some very sensitive things in the FBI at the same time where I'm going to be calling on the FBI to help my committee investigate why Arthur Andersen destroyed material.

"As I'm using some of the FBI agents to help investigate Arthur Andersen," he added, "I want to make sure the fact that Arthur Andersen is at the same time helping with the reorganization of the FBI doesn't get one caught over the other."

Leahy made his comments on WVMT's "Charlie and Ernie in the Morning" show.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman has asked the Justice Department to determine whether "any actual or apparent conflicts of interest" exist in Andersen's relationship with the bureau.

Attorney General Ashcroft has recused himself from the Justice Department's Enron probe because he accepted contributions from the energy giant during his Senate bid two years ago.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration

[Senator_Blutarski]

Oh spare me, AA has contracts with just about every major business and institution in America. Leahy is an idiot.

[Republic]

I am not surprised that Leahy is trying to paint Ashcroft as less than honorable. Leahy and his ilk have no way to measure real men like John Ashcroft, or our President, or Dick Cheney, or women like Condi Rice, etc because Leahy, himself, is so perverted and dishonorable. These liberal jerks truly believe that EVERYONE is as nasty, unethical, immoral and pious as they are. They cannot take measure of another man's character because they, themselves, have never been acquainted with the qualities that evidence good character. I pity him. Every time I see him, because I know he is unhappy and unkind.

Worse, I know he would ruin anyone for political gain. It is a liberal 'trait'. The clintons gave us eight full years of trashing innocent, often powerless people, to save face and to gain political points.

[isthisnickcool]

How do such STUPID people as Leahy get into Congress? Oh, I know, STUPID voters! Forget I asked.

[denydenydeny]

I guess the FBI should recuse itself from this investigation and turn it over to the Democratic National Committee where it properly belongs.

[eskimo]

Appears some of those liberal types are foolish and childish enough to unwittingly cause the Dem/GOP establishment farce to begin eating itself.

What will the opportunistic buzzards feed on when all the political carrion has been devoured?

[lelio]

These liberal jerks truly believe that EVERYONE is as nasty, unethical, immoral and pious as they are.
Are you sensing the dripping irony that you're using AA as an example of a polite, ethical, and moral company?

[Republic]

Are you sensing the dripping irony that you're using AA as an example of a polite, ethical, and moral company?
No, actually, I'm not. And I don't even know what you mean by AA.

[Senator_Blutarski]

lelio, I think we're a little premature in tarring all of AA with the same brush. I suspect we're even premature in tarring the AA folks who handled the Enron mess with the same tar as the Enron executives.

Auditors examine the materials that are presented to them. If Enron falsified their records (which we know they did) the AA auditors may have drawn their financial conclusions based on incorrect data. The only way an auditor can find deception is when the data is inconsistent. From what I've heard, the Enron people were very good at putting up a consistent false front.

Much of AA's business comes from corporate audits and follow up consulting engagements. The kind of exposure they are getting at Enron will severely damage their future business. For that reason, audit firms are normally quite careful.

The shredding of records seemed strange to me, but I don't know what Enron represented to AA when they made the request.

[gulfcoast6]

Clinton is going to come out more and more behind Erons mess.

[Senator_Blutarski]

AA = Arthur Andersen

[Blagden Alley]

It strikes me as intentional misunderstanding of the way "consulting" by companies such as CSC, EDS, AA, Price-Waterhouse, and others, is handled in DC. The idea that cleared contract workers might get information relevant to another part of the corporation is almost always a real stretch. Further, the future of almost all of the on-site contractors is with CSC, EDS, PW, etc., here in Washington, not AA in Texas or New York

Leahy is simply dishonest. And the media which takes the accusation seriously is either ignorant, dishonest, or both.

[RooRoobird14]

Leaky Leahy (just like all the other wannabe Senate Clymers) is shrieking "Look at me, me, me!!!" again by trying to insinuate misconduct by Ashrcroft/Bush.

The only surprise here is that McInsane beat Leaky Leahy to the punch. ROTFLOL!!!!

[Republic]

Thank you senator, and lelio-I don't believe I mentioned ol 'in deep you know what's' name, or Arthur Anderson, or AA as you referred to him, in my post. I meant the names I wrote, and as far as the Leahy's ' ilk' part went, well, it certainly doesn't require heavy duty thought to ascertain who those liberal jerks are.

[pointsal]

Gosh, better hire an outfit from Hope, AR to solve this mess.

[d14truth]

"The same way STUPID presidents make it in and appoint STUPID AGs."

STUPID ones I can deal with, CROOKED ones should be placed where the 'Son don't shine'.

[d14truth]

"W was brought up corrupt. He knows nothing else."

Sorry, when one comes to know MY Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, there IS a new beginning, though you must live and take responsibility for the past. You 'choose' not to believe, it is fine with me. But, I am free to disagree with you and I do. When one of faith starts believing they are wrong, they lose THAT faith. Liberals, IMHO, are wrong, but they won't believe it and give up THEIR faith. I don't expect them to, and I doubt if I'll get them to respect that I won't give up mine. Find out who's right on the 'other' side.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I am not surprised that Leahy is trying to paint Ashcroft as less than honorable. Leahy and his ilk have no way to measure real men like John Ashcroft, or our President, or Dick Cheney, or women like Condi Rice, etc

Realizing now that the Rats were bestowed with greater capital, not to mention the rewards bequeathed upon the donor, as opposed to naked rejection by the Bush administration, I too am not surprised.