--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Enron scandal continues. The U.S…" description: "\"The Enron scandal continues. The U.S. Senate has announced they are going to subpoena Ken Lay and make him testify. Apparently Lay received the subpoen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/conan-o-brien-540_enron_the-enron-scandal-continues-the-u-s-sena_1160195.png" --- # The Enron scandal continues. The U.S. Senate has announced… ![“The Enron scandal continues. The U.S. Senate has announced they are going to subpoena Ken Lay and make him testify. Apparently Lay received the subpoena this morning and then, out of habit, immediately shredded it.” quote by Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/conan-o-brien-540_enron_the-enron-scandal-continues-the-u-s-sena_1160195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/conan-o-brien-540_enron_the-enron-scandal-continues-the-u-s-sena_1160195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/conan-o-brien-540_enron_the-enron-scandal-continues-the-u-s-sena_1160195.png) > “The Enron scandal continues. The U.S. Senate has announced they are going to subpoena Ken Lay and make him testify. Apparently Lay received the subpoena this morning and then, out of habit, immediately shredded it.” [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ken Lay’s habit of shredding a subpoena highlights denial and avoidance in crisis. **In simple terms:** Shredding evidence shows denial. Key Takeaway Confront issues directly. Themes denial crisis management accountability Mood cynical critical Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - political scandals - personal crises - public relations failures Key Concepts legal ethics corporate governance Questions to Reflect On - Why do people avoid confronting uncomfortable truths? - How can organizations foster accountability? A Different Perspective Avoidance can worsen legal consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enron/) [Enron scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enron-scandal-56183/) [Going Subpoena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-subpoena-3317940/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandal/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Subpoena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subpoena-296206/) [Subpoena Ken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subpoena-ken-3317939/) [Subpoenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subpoenas/) [Testify Apparently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testify-apparently-3317941/) ## Related quotes > [When reached for comment on the charges, Martha didn't say much, (only) that a subpoena should be served with a nice appetizer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/when-reached-for-comment-on-the-charges-martha-didn-t-say-much-only/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [If a regular law enforcement agency wants your phone records, all they have to do is issue a subpoena. But now the intelligence agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/if-a-regular-law-enforcement-agency-wants-your-phone-records-all-they/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Anyone who knows anything about journalism knows that reporters are rarely in a position to investigate anything. They lack the authority to subpoena witnesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/anyone-who-knows-anything-about-journalism-knows-that-reporters-are/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [You know, this is - one can imagine how life would be different if one body of Congress was controlled by the other party,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-isikoff/you-know-this-is-one-can-imagine-how-life-would-be-different-if-one/) [Michael Isikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-isikoff/) > [It's very difficult to pin down the President of the United States without subpoena powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/it-s-very-difficult-to-pin-down-the-president-of-the-united-states/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The congressman sends out a tremendous subpoena, they want to see the e-mails, and they delete the e-mails. I can't think of anything, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-congressman-sends-out-a-tremendous-subpoena-they-want-to-see-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Frankly, nobody's every seen anything like what's happening today. When you have somebody getting a subpoena from the United States Congress to have your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/frankly-nobody-s-every-seen-anything-like-what-s-happening-today-when/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A wedding invitation is a gift subpoena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/a-wedding-invitation-is-a-gift-subpoena/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [When you can spell subpoena without thinking about it, that's when you know you've made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee-roth/when-you-can-spell-subpoena-without-thinking-about-it-that-s-when-you/) [David Lee Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee-roth/) > [The Enron scandal is worthy of the highest level of scrutiny, both because of the enormity of the crimes that may have been committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/the-enron-scandal-is-worthy-of-the-highest-level-of-scrutiny-both/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Every coach, every executive, every leader: They all know right from wrong. Even those Enron guys. When someone uncovers a scandal in their company,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-schembechler/every-coach-every-executive-every-leader-they-all-know-right-from/) [Bo Schembechler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-schembechler/) > [In the Enron scandal, whistleblower Sherron Watkins is now calling herself Enron Brokovitch. She testified Ken Lay was duped by the other executives. Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/in-the-enron-scandal-whistleblower-sherron-watkins-is-now-calling/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [ I think everybody is covering their \[posteriors\] with the Enron scandal and it was very convenient that Sept. 11 came along to deflect the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-think-everybody-is-covering-their-posteriors-with-the-enron-scandal/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Are you getting a big kick out of the Enron scandal? I find this interesting that whenever a big crisis starts, people start showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/are-you-getting-a-big-kick-out-of-the-enron-scandal-i-find-this/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The Enron scandal calls into question the integrity of the entire capitalist system, which previously we assumed was based on honest, straightforward greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-achenbach/the-enron-scandal-calls-into-question-the-integrity-of-the-entire/) [Joel Achenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-achenbach/) ## More by Conan O'Brien > [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [People should say 'no comment' more often. No comment! I love no comment. Let's have more no comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/people-should-say-no-comment-more-often-no-comment-i-love-no-comment/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [A new study reveals that one-third of babies in the U.S. have used a smartphone. Yeah, and one-third of babies in China have MADE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-study-reveals-that-one-third-of-babies-in-the-u-s-have-used-a/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Martha Stewart showed up at Manhattan FBI Headquarters to have her finger prints taken and pose for a mug shot. Then Martha explained how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/martha-stewart-showed-up-at-manhattan-fbi-headquarters-to-have-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [A new survey reveals that women would rather give up sex than give up the remote control for the TV. Men, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-survey-reveals-that-women-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-give-up/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Yesterday the DEA raided several NFL teams suspected of giving prescription painkillers to their players. In its defense, the New York Jets' doctor said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/yesterday-the-dea-raided-several-nfl-teams-suspected-of-giving/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The first thing men notice about a woman is her eyes. Then, when her eyes aren't looking, they notice her breasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-first-thing-men-notice-about-a-woman-is-her-eyes-then-when-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Disappointment leads to clarity, which leads to conviction and true originality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/disappointment-leads-to-clarity-which-leads-to-conviction-and-true/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama filled in as the coach of his daughter Sasha's basketball team. Sasha evidently listened to her Dad, because all she did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-filled-in-as-the-coach-of-his-daughter-sasha-s/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama and Vladimir Putin are both in China attending the same economic summit. Obama saw Putin and said, 'After those midterms, it's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-and-vladimir-putin-are-both-in-china-attending-the/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) [Explore all 489 Conan O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) ## More Enron quotes > [The Enron scandal calls into question the integrity of the entire capitalist system, which previously we assumed was based on honest, straightforward greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-achenbach/the-enron-scandal-calls-into-question-the-integrity-of-the-entire/) [Joel Achenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-achenbach/) > [ I think everybody is covering their \[posteriors\] with the Enron scandal and it was very convenient that Sept. 11 came along to deflect the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-think-everybody-is-covering-their-posteriors-with-the-enron-scandal/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I take full responsibility for what happened at Enron. But saying that, I know in my mind that I did nothing criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-lay/i-take-full-responsibility-for-what-happened-at-enron-but-saying-that/) [Kenneth Lay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-lay/) > [“Enron was becoming a virtual cult of creativity, often placing swagger over substance. New ideas were celebrated for their newness, for their potential; tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-eichenwald/enron-was-becoming-a-virtual-cult-of-creativity-often-placing-swagger/) [Kurt Eichenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-eichenwald/) > [People are treating the Stewart case as seriously as Enron when it's really over trivia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/people-are-treating-the-stewart-case-as-seriously-as-enron-when-it-s/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [I predict that in the years ahead Enron, not Sept. 11, will come to be seen as the greater turning point in U.S. society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-predict-that-in-the-years-ahead-enron-not-sept-11-will-come-to-be/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [But the most important thing is, Enron did not cause the California crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-lay/but-the-most-important-thing-is-enron-did-not-cause-the-california/) [Kenneth Lay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-lay/) > [Was I believer in Enron Corporation? Yes, sir, I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-skilling/was-i-believer-in-enron-corporation-yes-sir-i-was/) [Jeffrey Skilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-skilling/) > [Most of the evil of the world comes about not out of evil motives, but somebody saying 'get with the program, be a team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/most-of-the-evil-of-the-world-comes-about-not-out-of-evil-motives-but/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Playboy magazine is now doing a 'Women of Enron' pictorial spread. ... Apparently the only thing these women have left to shred is their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/playboy-magazine-is-now-doing-a-women-of-enron-pictorial-spread/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Things that have happened with Enron and companies like that, where they've squandered their employees' pension funds, I think it has brought a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/things-that-have-happened-with-enron-and-companies-like-that-where/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [I take responsibility for what happened at Enron, both good and bad. But I cannot take responsibility for criminal conduct that I was unaware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-lay/i-take-responsibility-for-what-happened-at-enron-both-good-and-bad/) [Kenneth Lay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-lay/) > [I wish I could undo what I did at Enron but I can't. I understand that I deserve punishment. Your honor, I accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-fastow/i-wish-i-could-undo-what-i-did-at-enron-but-i-can-t-i-understand-that/) [Andrew Fastow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-fastow/) > [Ken Lay has, does and will continue to accept responsibility for the fall of Enron. He was the man at the controls. But failure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ramsey/ken-lay-has-does-and-will-continue-to-accept-responsibility-for-the/) [Michael Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ramsey/) [Browse all 89 Enron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enron/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Enron scandal continues. The U.S. Senate has announced they are going to subpoena Ken Lay and make him testify. 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