Judge Weighs Venue Change in Enron Case

HOUSTON -- A judge did not immediately rule on the request to move the trial of the wife of former Enron Corp. finance chief Andrew Fastow out of Houston, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who initially recused himself from Enron-related cases along with several other federal judges in Houston because he had invested in the bankrupt company, said he would rule soon on Lea Fastow's bid for a change of venue for her Feb. 10 trial.

Lea Fastow, once Enron's assistant treasurer, is the first former Enron executive scheduled to go to trial in Houston. Her attorneys say she "may well bear the initial brunt of local incense over the company's collapse."

Lea Fastow is charged with six counts of filing false tax forms and conspiracy for allegedly participating in and profiting from some of her husband's schemes that.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 10/29/03