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Senators Question Top Enron Execs VOA News 26 Feb 2002 16:17 UTC 
The Senate Commerce Committee is hearing testimony from top Enron officials on the energy trader's financial collapse last year.
In his testimony, Mr. Skilling said Enron's bankruptcy was devastating to employees and shareholders and he apologized to them. But he said he never decieved Enron Chief Kenneth Lay about the bookeeping, which he said was approved by the company's accountants.
During the testimony Mr. Skilling said he couldn't recall details of key conversations that subordinates, including Mr. McMahon, testified they had with him.
At the same time, Mr. Skilling criticized what he called poor congressional treatment of Enron officials, who he said should be presumed innocent.
The Senate Commerce Committee is pressing Mr. Skilling for details on how much he knew about partnerships the company used to avoid listing large amounts of debt on its books.
In recent testimony before a House of Representatives panel examining dealings that led to Enron's bankruptcy Mr. Skilling said he had only limited knowledge of such partnerships and the company's financial problems. Some lawmakers have expressed skepticism about his responses.
Enron vice-president Sharon Watkins told senators she continued to ask questions about the company's bookeeping but never received any reassuring explanations. She said she did not want to push the issue for fear she might lose her job.
Ms. Watkins also said she expected former Enron Chief Kenneth Lay to conduct an investigation into her concerns that the company was manipulating its financial statements and was surprised when he did not.
Enron is the largest company to declare bankruptcy in U.S. history. Many employees saw their entire pensions evaporate as company stock plunged. Thousands also lost their jobs.
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