Subject: Lockyer Fires Earthy Attack at Energy Exec
From: [email-masked]
To: [email-masked]
Cc: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 05:52:05 -0700 (PDT)

Jeff
 
FYI - Strong and colorful words  from a powerful man.
 
Given Lockyer's abilities,  position and and ambition, I would advise building bridges and mending fences  while this is still at the taunting stage.  He wants your  attention.  Knowing him, I'd say that a direct and friendly  call from you or Ken today, followed by a meeting would go a long  way.
 
Kevin
213-926-2626

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"I would love to  personally escort [Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth] Lay to an 8-by-10 cell  that he could share with a tattooed dude who says, 'Hi my name is Spike,  honey,' " Lockyer said.       Enron spokesman  Mark Palmer called the comment "counterproductive rhetoric" that "does not  merit a response."       But other industry  representatives denounced the remark as "outrageous," especially because  neither Lockyer's office nor any investigative panel has filed charges  against Enron or other companies.       "You'd  expect that the state's chief legal counsel would file charges first and  make public statements second," said Gary Ackerman of the Western Power  Trading Forum, an association of energy producers and traders. "We're very  disappointed with his choice of words, which don't exactly fit the profile  of his office."       In an interview Tuesday,  Lockyer said he decided to "ratchet up" the commentary to "put [energy  companies] on notice" that "we are not afraid of them and have the will to  prosecute."       "What I'm trying to do is  let these economic buccaneers understand that if we catch them, they're  going to be prosecuted," Lockyer said. "Just because they're  multimillionaires and run big corporations, it doesn't provide them with  immunity."       The attorney general is  investigating whether power company officials tried to maximize profits  through illegal manipulation of prices on the wholesale energy market.  Several panels, including a state Senate committee and the California  Public Utilities Commission, are conducting similar probes.        On Tuesday, Lockyer announced that three  power companies have agreed to turn over documents subpoenaed months ago  by his investigators. The attorney general went to court to obtain the  documents after the companies failed to meet a March 19 deadline to hand  them over.       Lockyer said the forthcoming  documents would help his office as it sifts through mountains of evidence  in search of possible violations of antitrust or unfair business practice  laws.       "Evidence is accumulating that  certainly infers illegal activity," Lockyer said. "But we need to make  sure it's compelling and clear enough that you can convince a jury."        Lockyer said he singled out Enron's  chairman because the Houston company is the world's largest energy trader.        At least one observer found Lockyer's  comments refreshingly candid. Harry Snyder, a senior advocate of Consumers  Union, said, "Let Lockyer be Lockyer."  * * *      Times staff writer Dan  Morain contributed to this story.    Search  the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories about:  Bill  Lockyer , Enron  Corp , Kenneth  L Lay , Utilitiy  Rates , Energy  - California , Utilities  - California , Electricity . You  will not be charged to look for stories, only to retrieve one.  	
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