Why did it take so long for Lay to be indicted?

[coloradodem2005]

Enron was found out almost 3 years ago. It went bankrupt towards the end of 2001. Why didn't the indictments start about two years ago?

[jackstraw45]

1. THAT'S a big part of the payback from Bushco...

"We'll do what we can to keep you out of prison for as long as possible...."

[coloradodem2005]

2. figures.

I figured that would be the real reason. I just wanted to be sure that this was not normal, because it took a lot less time for them to take Martha Stewart down.

[jackstraw45]

3. Think about it..

Lay has already bought almost 3 extra years of freedom...add trial and appeals and he could be an old man by the time he actually sees a jail cell.

Meanwhile, Martha was charged, tried and convicted before Lay faced a single judge.

[spanone]

19. And when bush* is fired in Nov. he can pardon Kenny Boy.

[denverbill]

4. Someone on NPR was talking about that this AM.

They said there was something like a million pages of evidence that they had to go through. I could possibly see that.

Can you imagine having to go through the files of a major corporation? Every email, memo, computer, etc. Then trying to compare what happened in memo #138483 with what was said in email #8953773. I can honestly understand it taking that long.

6. You're right about that

There are a million pages of evidence.

I've temped in New York law firms.
I can tell you for a fact that there are a miilion pages of evidence.
(I've seen some of it)

[moondust]

5. Timing.

Busheney will probably try to incorporate it into the campaign (tough on corporate crime), then AFTER the election issue a pardon.

[redqueen]

7. I don't care - I hope the trial takes a while too

I think it's great that he hasn't been convicted yet. His buddy Bu$h can't pardon him if he hasn't been convicted.

[stopbush]

8. 3 years to return indictments, yet Kenny Boy wants a trial in 2 months!

Just heard it on CNN. He wants a trial by September! I guess he has a big fall vacation planned and wants to get things out of the way. Plus, if he's convicted quickly, * can pardon him before his ass is out on the street in January.

Scum.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. They have to indict him before they can pardon him.

By waiting until now Kennyboy will have to spend a minimal amount on his defense before November.

[maveric]

10. He was given time to "Get his house in order"...

before he took the walk.

[necso]

11. *'s political needs.

I think that if * was at high approval rates and a shoo-in for another term, Lay might well have skated.

Given that * needs a boost, the timing is all about the election. This administration and the "neos" in general are super big on "stage managing" anything that they can use to their advantage, so as to get the maximum gain.

As others have mentioned, Lay will be pardoned. He simply knows too much to be left to rot. If * gets four more years then the pardon will come after Lay's conviction (he may do a few months in some facility). If * is defeated, I expect that Lay will plead out (if necessary due to timing), get sentenced and be pardoned before * exits office.

I am sure that Lay knows all this and is not too worried. After all the top tier "neos" benefit from the system that they have built -- a system where they are treated differently than everyone else -- for this is what the "neos" are really all about.

[welshTerrier2]

13. exactly ...

ashcroft had to wait for poll results after the dems chose a nominee ... if bush was ahead in the polls, no need to do anything about Enron ...

but now, with Kerry ahead and still gaining ground, bush and company had no choice but to start eating their own ...

[John BigBootay]

12. There were dozens of indictments that preceded Lay's--

And several of those indictments have led to various convictions and deals. The DEALS are what is going to bring Lay down. The SEC needed to secure these deals before indicting Lay and all of that takes time..

You WILL SEE Lay convicted.

You will PROBABLY see Lay do time.

I HOPE we will see Lay do time in the "general population" and not a tennis camp prison, but I doubt it.

[Yupster]

18. Correct John

It's been a classic case of starting at the bottom, indicting people, and then cutting deal with them if they'd turn on their bosses.

You could see the ladder climbing in indictment after indictment.

You know Lay could see the case coming together as one after another of his underlings plead guilty and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution. It probably sucks watching a case build against you for three years, and seeing one person after abnother give evidence to the feds.

It seems like it's been handled pretty well. I wouldn't be surprised if Lay cops a plea too.

[John BigBootay]

21. Thanks, Yupster--

I've admired your perspective on this board for quite a while.

[West Coast Democrat]

14. It took about 20 minutes for Martha Stewart to be indicted, tried...

and has she been sentenced yet?

[Bluebear]

15. Now Lay wants a SPEEDY trial, by September!

He wants that pardon while Bush is still President!

[leftofthedial]

16. friends in high places

and you know, Clinton's penis did play golf with Ken Lay.

[chiburb]

17. It took that long (or longer) for Il. Gov. Ryan too...

The Feds always work their way up the food chain in high profile cases. That happened here too with Fastow, Skilling and others. They'll get "cooperation" from the underlings in their prosecution of Lay. At least in theory...

[Joanne98]

20. PARDON?????????????

I can't hear you!!!!!!!!!!!!