The Enron Trap

Here’s a worrisome scenario for the White House as it tries to navigate its way through the Enron mess: Weeks from now, there’s still no evidence that anyone in the administration did anything wrong, yet the White House finds itself in a confrontation with Congress over contacts with Enron. Democratic senators demand information, the president refuses to give it up, and subpoenas fly. Legal battles follow, and the White House ultimately loses—all without any credible suggestion of wrongdoing.

It might seem farfetched, and indeed there appears to be great confidence in the White House that it won’t happen. But the president’s increasingly hardline stance against releasing information related to Enron could make it a reality.

About the Author

Byron York

Byron York is a former White House correspondent for National Review.

Here’s a worrisome scenario for the White House as it tries to navigate its way through the Enron mess: Weeks from now, there’s still no evidence that anyone in the administration did anything wrong, yet the White House finds itself in a confrontation with Congress over contacts with Enron. Democratic senators demand information, the president refuses to give it up, and subpoenas fly. Legal battles follow, and the White House ultimately loses—all without any credible suggestion of wrongdoing.

It might seem farfetched, and indeed there appears to be great confidence in the White House that it won’t happen. But the president’s increasingly hardline stance against releasing information related to Enron could make it a reality.