Skilling vows he's "Absolutely Innocent"

By Scott Files

Published on April 11, 2006

With co-defendant and founder of Enron, Kenneth L. Lay, watching from the courtroom, Mr. Skilling tried to convince the jury that Enron's underlying financial performance was so good that there was no need for fraudulent activity. He used elaborate charts and graphs to try and persuade the jury that any conspiracy to falsify Enron's financial performance would have been unnecessary.

Prosecutors in the case are sure to ask Mr. Skilling about a scheduled selling of Enron stock in September of 2001 that he originally had brushed off as a planned sale as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. Prosecutors contend that Mr. Skilling planned to sell company stock because of insider information that the company was in a troubling position.

Mr. Skilling also said that he had felt betrayed and became physically ill after recently hearing former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew S. Fastow admit to stealing tens of millions of dollars from the company through illicit schemes with Michael Kopper, a former Enron Vice President.

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