Enron’s President Jeffrey Skilling Says He Contemplated Suicide
Former Enron Corp. President Jeffrey Skilling says he contemplated suicide after his company crumbled and authorities began to ratchet up legal pressure on him.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that life is better than the alternative, which was not a conclusion that was real clear to me for a period of time,” Skilling told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published in Saturday editions.
Skilling, 52, said he sought psychiatric help but was only able to emerge from a deep, two-year malaise after his 2004 indictment in which he was charged with conspiracy, fraud and insider trading, among other counts.
“The indictment, in a lot of ways, that was the turning point,” Skilling told the newspaper. “That’s when I started climbing back.”
During those couple of years of depression, Skilling said he turned into a recluse, retreating to his mansion in an upscale part of Houston, where he lingered in bed and obsessively followed coverage of the scandal.
In the interview, Skilling insisted he was innocent despite a jury convicting him on 19 counts.
Skilling says that he stupidly helped convict himself by telling federal authorities — whom he described as the “Gestapo” — too much.
“I was the best source of information that the government had,” he said. “Absolutely.”
Does anyone actually feel sorry for Mr. Skilling? This man helped swindled thousands of investors by “cooking” the books at Enron. I understand how he might want to commit suicide, I just wonder how many people who lost everything they own because of his actions also considered suicide and does he care?Â
Jeffrey Skilling still says he is innocent, even after a jury found him guilty on 19 counts of fraud. I am sorry. If you cannot admit your mistakes, I don’t feel sorry for you Mr. Skilling. That is my take. What is your opinion?