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American Scandal

Encore: Enron | The Reckoning | 5

American Scandal

Audible

Exhibit C, History, Documentary, Lindsay Graham, True Crime, History Daily, American History Tellers, Society & Culture

4.519.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 August 2021

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A federal task force is formed to bring Enron’s corrupt executives to justice. Sherron Watkins arrives in Washington to participate in congressional hearings and struggles to process the staggering costs of Enron’s downfall.  

This episode originally aired on September 24, 2019.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, prime members, you can listen to American Scandal add-free on Amazon Music, download the app today.

0:19.0

It's December 6, 2001, four days since the largest bankruptcy filing in American history.

0:26.0

Jeff's skilling is in New York City. He sits shirtless in a dark room with wires attached to his fingers.

0:33.0

There's a two wrapped around his head, another wrapped around his chest. His mouth is dry, his heart races.

0:40.0

He closes his eyes desperate to remain calm.

0:44.0

You ready to begin, Mr. Scilley?

0:46.0

Yes. Scilling stares at the man sitting across from him. His name is Paul Meiner, formerly chief polygraph examiner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

0:56.0

Let's start with an easy one. Is your name Jeffrey Scilley?

1:00.0

Yes. Meiner casually marks the scrolling polygraph chart with his pen. His face is completely expressionless as he asks the next question.

1:09.0

Are you concerned that you might fail this test?

1:12.0

Scilling swallows hard. Yes. Meiner sits in silence.

1:17.0

After what feels like a full minute, he resumes. Mr. Scilley, while President of Enron were you aware of any improper financial arrangements concealed from the Board of Directors?

1:27.0

No. While President of Enron, did you ever take money for yourself without the Board's approval?

1:33.0

No. As President of Enron, did you ever intentionally deceive the Board or the company's investors with the use of misleading accounting?

1:41.0

No. Meiner concentrates as he marks up the test results. Scilling looks down at his hands and tries not to make too big a show of wiping the sweat off his face.

1:53.0

Meiner gives Scilley a curt smile. Thank you very much, Mr. Scilley.

1:58.0

Meiner begins to wordlessly remove the various sensors from Scilley's body.

2:02.0

Wait, did I pass? I need to speak to your lawyers. They'll be in short leave.

2:07.0

Scilling reaches for his shirt. Meiner leaves abruptly, and Scilley can't tell if that's a good sign or a very bad one.

2:15.0

He still can't believe that Enron is bankrupt, and that people want him to answer for it.

2:20.0

His lawyers asked him to submit to this lie detector test to prove he wasn't hiding anything from them. Scilling is bitter.

2:27.0

Yeah, I'm the guilty one. I'm guilty of pumping billions of dollars into the American economy, guilty of saving the energy business.

...

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