"This analysis is eye-opening. It shows that lying to get financial aid from the taxpayers carries serious penalties, as it should. Any corporate executives who lie and cheat to get government financial help could face years in prison, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, or both. The taxpayers aren't a cash cow for corporate cheats. The Department of Justice is right to investigate whether the Enron Corp. provided false information to the Export-Import Bank and OPIC. If Enron officials cheated the taxpayers, the full penalty of law should apply. I'm also pleased to see the Export-Import Bank realizes this is serious and is cooperating with the Department of Justice."
Attachments:
(1) April 23, 2002, letter from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to Grassley
(2) Congressional Research Service analysis
Note: This is a re-typing.
April 23, 2002
The Honorable Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
Committee on Finance
United States Senate
219 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
This is in response to your letter of April 2, 2002, concerning export credit commitments made by the Export-Import Bank of the United States ("Ex-Im Bank") that involve the Enron Corporation "Enron"). Please let me assure you that Ex-Im Bank takes very seriously potential violations of law with respect to its financing programs and works very closely with the Department of Justice ("DOJ") when such matters arise.
The Bank has been in contact with DOJ regarding Enron. DOJ is aware that Ex-Im Bank has received and relied upon financial information from Enron. DOJ has stated to us that documents in our possession may contain information relevant to DOJ's investigation of Enron, and DOJ has asked Ex-Im Bank to preserve and maintain all records relevant to the investigation. Ex-Im Bank is maintaining all such records and has provided DOJ with the information previously submitted to the Senate Finance Committee, including information on the Accroven transaction.
Again, Ex-Im Bank is committed to working very closely with DOJ regarding potential violations of law with respect to its financing programs.
Sincerely,
Eduardo Aguirre
Vice Chairman