Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2004
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRM
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT BY DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES COMEY ON THE 5TH CIRCUIT’S RULING IN THE ARTHUR ANDERSEN CASE:


“Today’s unanimous ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is an important victory not only for the Department of Justice and its Enron Task Force, but for all of the investigations being conducted by members of the President’s Corporate Fraud Task Force. The Arthur Andersen conviction was a signal event in promoting a re-evaluation in this country of what is expected of corporations and their executives. The public demands that corporations and their managers be honest, law-abiding members of the community, and this prosecution, perhaps more than any other in history, demonstrated that. The old ‘business as usual’ will not be tolerated, and no corporation, no matter how big or how well established, is beyond the reach of the law. Where the corporate crime involves the obstruction of law enforcement and regulatory agencies charged with protecting the public, prosecution will be swift and the consequences severe.

“I congratulate the Enron Task Force and the Criminal Division for their work in securing this significant conviction and for today’s victory in the Court of Appeals.”

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