Senators take rubber hoses to HP

HP WAS branded a bunch of liars by an investigating congressional committee yesterday.

According to Information Week, committee members said that HP's methods of investigating leaks were illegal and its defence of its tactics were 'unbelievable'.

Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat said that HP had claimed that there were loop holes in the law, to allow their methods, when there were not.

He said that former Board Chair Patricia Dunn's testimony was "troubling" and he wondered what had happened to the state of corporate culture. HP was all saying that they "heard nothing. Saw nothing. Knew nothing". Yet there was plenty of evidence that she knew all about the investigation early on, he said.

Florida Republican Cliff Stearns was miffed that none of the executives, other than CEO Mark Hurd seemed the slightest bit contrite about their actions. Hurd seem to be putting his hand up for responsibilty for everything even when it couldn't have been his fault, Stearns said.

John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, said that HP were "shameful and shameless" and said shareholders would have to hold the company responsible.

The fact that a lot of HP witnesses pleaded the Fifth amendment because they feared that they would face criminal charges over their actions did not bode well either. Ten witnesses including Kevin Hunsaker, HP's director of ethics and senior counsel, Joe DePante, owner of Action Research Group, HP's outside investigator, HP former general counsel, Ann Baskins, private investigator Ron DeLia and HP investigations manager Gentilucci pleaded the fifth.

Committee members expressed their frustrations and some surprise over the refusal to testify. Only two witnesses were known to be taking the Fifth before the hearing began.

There were also documents that were presented to the committee that indicated that a whistleblower Vincent Nye, part of a five-man team that oversaw HP's efforts to plug a boardroom leak, warned that its detectives were getting out of control.

More here. µ