When is a Deal not a Deal?
Category: News Commentary...
Posted Friday, January 09, 2004 at 02:12 PM [GMT-6]

Lea Fastow let the noon deadline pass today without accepting the plea bargain that was presented to her, and thus will go to trial on February 10 for her role in the Enron scandal.

Can't say as I blame her. The deal offered her by federal prosecutors looked on the surface to be acceptable, if not appealing: five months jail time. But closer inspection reveals that this "deal" was really a pig in a poke for Ms. Fastow. The presiding judge refused to be bound by the five month sentence, instead reserving the right to impose more jail time. And a Houston TV station reports that the judge has already stated that five months probably isn't enough, given the charges against her.

Whatever she may be, Lea Fastow is no dummy, and she recognizes a stacked deck when she sees it. She and her defense team no doubt came to the conclusion that her chances will be better in front of a jury -- who will be presented with significant testimony regarding her young children and the seriousness with which she takes her maternal responsibilities -- than with a judge who already seems to have hangin' on his mind.

Sheesh. Haven't these guys ever watched "Law and Order"?