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Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman
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by Thomas L. Friedman
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08/10/2007
John Rigas
A conversation with John Rigas
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A conversation with John Rigas. On June 27, 2007, John Rigas and his son, Timothy J. Rigas, were ordered to report to prison on Aug. 13th for their fraud convictions.
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boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Obviously that is water under the bridge if indeed it is. The bottom line is they were charged, tried and found guilty within the experts of the legal system and the whole world watching. I hardly think that an army of professional accountants, auditors, attorneys, government agencies and officials who picked this case a part with a toothpick got it wrong with everyone watching the entire saga played out. They would have been found innocent if they truly were. Enough said.
Apparently, the Judge and Jury didn't get the message that Adelphia and Rigas had been thoroughly audited for 20 years by one of the largest and most reputable Accounting Firms in the world. Those folks and the outside law firm stated they'd claim the fifth if called to the stand. During the 20 year time span, there had been more than 100 auditors reviewing, auditing, and advising. Deloitte devoted an estimated 21,000 hours to the audit of Adelphia's 2000 financial statements and related accounting advisory activities; Dearlove himself spent over 700 hours. Dearlove spent a total of ten to fifteen days on-site in Coudersport with the audit team. Dearlove participated in discussions with the team, reviewed workpapers and underlying Adelphia documents when the team brought them to his attention, and "worked through the issues" with his staff in what Dearlove characterized as a "consultative process." At the end of the audit, Dearlove looked at certain workpapers and drew conclusions as to whether the team completed its review. Dearlove testified at a separate hearing that he also consulted Deloitte's national office on a number of accounting issues during the course of the audit, mostly involving revenue recognition. On March 29, 2001, Deloitte issued its independent auditor's report, signed by Dearlove, which stated that it had conducted its audit in accordance with GAAS and that such audit provided a reasonable basis for its opinion that Adelphia's 2000 financial statements fairly presented Adelphia's financial position in conformity with GAAP. Between 1996 and 2000, several Adelphia subsidiaries and some of the Rigas Entities had entered as co-borrowers into a series of three credit agreements with a consortium of banks. Although the agreements differed in the amount of credit available, their terms were substantially the same: each borrower provided collateral for the loan; each could draw funds under the loan agreement; and each was jointly and severally liable for the entire amount of funds drawn down under the agreement regardless of which entity drew down the amount. Combining the features of term loans and revolving credit lines, the agreements permitted co-borrowers to draw funds and repay the loans at will and required almost no principal payments until the loans began to mature in 2004. The amount of debt outstanding under the agreements therefore could fluctuate as co-borrowers drew down and made payments on the loans. Cross-default provisions in the agreements provided that it was considered an event of default if the borrowers failed to timely pay any other substantial debts – co-borrowed or otherwise – they had assumed, which would permit the banks to demand immediate payment of all outstanding amounts. The agreements also provided that an event of default occurred if the Rigas family lost its majority control of the co-borrowing companies. Rigas followed all the rules. They should not be in prison.
For all of those that remind us that he broke the law and stop sympathizing too much, WAKE UP. It seems that the fact that James Brown, who was central to the government's case lied during his entire testimony and that is part of public record, yet would have been unknown to the jury that convicted Rigas, has gone right by you. Perhaps the latest headlines about the USA which many of us have long known have gone by you as well. We have imprisoned a higher percentage of our population than any society in history, including Russia under Stalin and South Africa under apartheid. Juries are getting cases wrong every day, largely due to the ridiculous power given to prosecutors and the subversion of defendants rights. THat is the only way you get 1 out of every 99 adults in prison - you have to sweep a lot of innocent people in along with the guilty. To any rational person, our incarceration rate is insane. It has become one of the least admirable qualities of Americans - I don't know if it's jealousy or our own unhappiness with our own lives - that we seem to delight in imprisoning people. I will say it again - WAKE UP! Soon they will be coming for you.
Charlie, I just happened to be looking for something and came across this interview with Mr. Rigas. Thank you Sir for giving this dear man the respect to allow him to finally speak out to all the world. I live in a nearby community and many of my friends and relatives have been effected due to this very sad Greek Tragedy. John is a sweet gentle man and I am praying that he might return home to live out his last few years in his beloved Coudersport. Did he know what was going on? I seriously doubt it. Did his sons, I think probably. Was he a generous and kind man who always had a kind "hello" and how are you? YES. John Rigas and the entire Adelphia organization was a wonderful thing for our very poor rural Pa. area and we are all suffering from the debacle. For the first time in almost 30 years, since the Sylvania days in Emporium, Pa. we were finally hopeful. I forgive this man for any wrong doing, and I am so sorry to know that he's in prison. God bless you John. Thanks again Charlie.
After watching John Rigas's interview a number of times, I do like him. I think he is a sweet old guy. But there is something about a group of people who all the while supporting John Rigas and overlooking the fact that the man and his sons committed crimes, he broke the law, he was investigated, indicted, tried and found GUILTY! There were a great number of supporters for Kenneth Lay, Jeffrey Skillen, Sam Waksal, and a whole host of other powerful corporate heads/entrepreneurs in this patchwork quilt of corrupt leaders of these multi, multi-millions of dollar companies. But appreciate the american dream of the men AND women who have worked hard, with their sweat and tears to build their corporate empires for themselves and THEIR families and did not nor would NEVER put the lives and livlihoods of the people they employ in jeapardy over greed! You people who are so supportive of yet another man and his sons who broke the laws of this land tarnish those who worked hard to get where the Rigas's got and even further. You are enablers now and that tells me that perhaps if any of you were in his place (Mr. Rigas) I would question your forthrightness and honesty in dealing in business yourselves. Hmm. Check your own 'integrity' lately folks? Don't put down the entrepreneurs/buisness owners and yes even corporate heads who did do it right and are upstanding by doing it the right way keeping the integrity of themselves AND their companies in tact, I might add with some class...Stop enabling the criminals!
Speak for yourself Brad. Bad things happened in Coudersport. A few people may support him and still love him - but only a precious few who remain unswayed even in the face of the truth about their actions. Bad things happened indeed.
Coudersport has taken a hit, a huge hit. Rigas did some wrong things, but he is a good man. Coudersport supports him and still loves him.
I am a former Adelphia Business Solutions sales person. I worked for Adelphia and later Telcove from Jan 1997 to July 2004. Those were the best years of my working life. We did our jobs , did our work well and were paid quite well for it . As one of the better producing salesman I attended the only 3 Presidents Clubs held in Disney World, Cancun and Puerto Rico. All fabulous times. I met Mr Rigas at each of those affairs and found him to be an Executive who truly appreciated his employees, was concerned for there welfare and wanted everyone to live a good life. I don't know if this was a witch hunt or not. Seems to have a bit of that and politics (BUSH) in the story but... I don't know what really happened . I am just sorry it did. Mr Rigas provided an opportunity for my family to enjoy almost 8 years of the good life. For that I thank him. For his sins of fraud and stealing money , only God knows the true story and will be the Judge. I pray his stay in prison is not too harsh and he is able to live out his life as painlessly as possible.
I am a former Employee of Adelphia in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. I worked in the Customer Service Department for 6 years and the construction department for my remaining 6 years. I want so bad to believe that Mr. Rigas is innocent. Just before bankruptcy, Mr. Rigas called an employee meeting in a large conference room at a hotel here in Florida to discuss what? none of us really knew. Even after we left the meeting, most of us were left wondering what we were called there for. I can tell you, the meeting ended with Mr. Rigas in tears, almost like he was apolojizing for something. I can tell you that whenever our office ordered new furniture we were told it had to come from Mr. Rigas' wifes furniture store. No matter that it would cost three times more than if we ordered it locally. When we would prepare our New Construction budget it would be cut to almost nothing. We were told that although the budget we were submitting was wacked from around 20 miles of new cable plant to 5 miles of new cable plant (not actual numbers, just to give an idea) we would not be denied the money needed to install cable plant in new areas of construction. Things like these two examples really started me thinking after the charges were announced. There were also rumors that real estate was purchased in Coudersport and then sold to employess above market value. Now you have people who paid too much for their homes, can't sell and have lost their jobs. Of course i don't know that that was a real rumor, but it was well known in my office. I love Mr. Rigas, and do believe he has a HUGE heart. I was very excited to see this interview, as the last time I saw him was here in Florida giving his very strange, seemed like apology speech. Employess from our Palm Beach Gardens office that went to Coudersport said they received the best treatment ever and some even felt like Royalty when they went there for training. I hope that when the truth comes out, Mr. Rigas is innocent.
Koosh - the comment is mostly ridiculous because the comment it references has been removed. I do realize that even so, it was an awkward post, as is this one!
Good interview. Rigas may be a criminal, but he deserved this forum to say his piece. Congratulations to Aiming for Clarity. Your persnickety, pedantic, and oddly uppity comment qualifies for the most pointless online post ever. As for Thad and Gina's praises for Coudersport's 'hardy' people and its 'collective inner-strength'... well, I think you're just being silly and overly sentimental. Really, what choice do people in that town have except to move on? Of course they'll keep plugging along, because that's what people do. It has nothing to do with Couldersport being some sort of exceptional place. It reminds me of how Buffalonians are always praising themselves for their resolve through economic woes -- what else are they going to do -- jump off the Peace Bridge en masse on a frigid January day? Your comments are loaded with saccharine and empty calories.
No one named "Anne" has commented on this interview. To whom are you referring? Ann?
Throwing an 82 year old non violent ill man into a federal prison is barbaric.
Thad, well-said. I am very glad to hear that. I commend and applaud Coudersport. A small town that sounds like it has a rooted history and a great collective inner-strength in overcoming this *setback* to rise again and should not be defined by a hardship, but by the strength and character of it's people. .
I have been to Coudersport and if you think that town has been devastated, you are wrong. The people there are a hardy lot. There was a Coudersport long before Adelphia's arrival and there will be a Coudersport long after all of us are pushing up the dildines and the daisies. Do not despair or shed a tear for the community. It has been tested before and it will rise to the occasion and overcome this latest setback.
There are a lot of unanswered allegations that you could look to on this forum far more important and beyond a fact whether there was an independent board of directors aside from the Rigas board of directors being a moot point, that I would be more interested in your answering to. Perhaps your debate is not with myself but with the other author who was also a former employee of your company whom as we have all read his/her detailed account of many *alleged* misappropriating that went on within the company again perhaps you would like to comment on. And being that the Rigas sons are all graduates of Harvard, Juris Doctorates and Law Degrees, Tim Rigas with a Business Degree, and I am suppose to believe they (excuse me) *didnâ??t know*? Or in stock market broker terms, a *DK* that they were committing banking and SEC fraudulent crimes? Come, come now. The SEC apparently understood the so-called complicated accounting issues to which and why the Rigasâ??s were indicted and ultimately convicted to which they have now begun to serve their time in a Federal prison, no doubt. I see there are a number of former Adelphia employees who have made comments on this forum, some yay, some nay still does not negate the fact that these men were found guilty of committing crimes after a trial played out on the national stage and so it is what it is. As much as I feel sorry for Mr. Rigas (the father), I cannot condone the actions resulting in the economic prospering rise of a small town to itâ??s ultimate fall due to the greed (seemingly) of one familyâ??s control. This case is so complicated with a complicated group of players on all sides, but let us not forget or to be so bold as to send out a message that indeed has plagued this country that *the wealthy* who can afford the best of counsel can have a place above the law as opposed to the poor who are subject to the office of the public defender. I commend the SEC for itâ??s diligence in overseeing these types of illegal corporate injustices that one of my favorite presidents in history instituted as part of the *New Deal* in the formation of the SEC by the great President *Franklin Delano Roosevelt* to deter corporate privileged greed. Ultimately it is the townâ??s people of Coudersport who are paying the price right along with the Rigasâ??s. Just be glad neither of the Rigasâ??s will have to spend time in a state penitentiary where life would Iâ??m sure be a lot more unbearable than a medium security facility with amenities to pass the time. *Henry*
All I know is that I met these two men this weekend in prison! I'm not personally in prison but I happened to be there. The mother/wife and other two sons had come to visit them and it was heart wrenching! To watch Mr. Rigas (the father) cry was more than I could tolerate! They are a very distinguished family and presented themselves in a spectacular way in such a horrific place! My prayers goes out to the family.
John Rigas whoever and whereever you are, you deserved a fair trial. What I heard in this interview, is that it was a Federal Government Witch Hunt. Why has John Rigas and his son gone to prison while appealing? Former Governor George Ryan (of Illinois) is being allowed to stay out of prison during his appeals. Excellent job Charlie, you showed respect, compassion and sensitivity to this man.
Justin's comments appearing two messages below this one are a bit too personal for my tastes, but they do address a valid point: freeloaders and hangers-on who benefited directly from the Rigases' kindness and the prosperity of Adelphia showed their true colors when faced with a "loyalty test." At the same time, once subpoenaed and sworn to truthfulness, they could not be expected to be "advocates," per se. It was a terrible situation for all concerned. Regardless, dildines are due to Charlie Rose for allowing Mr. Rigas to be heard during his final hours of freedom. Let us pray for healing and recovery.
Gina's comment that the Rigases used control of Adelphia's Board of Directors to approve transactions between themselves and Adelphia is wrong. These transactions needed approval of a majority of the independent directors not the Rigas directors. I know this independent director approval was obtained for every affliate transaction since I attended every board meeting since 1993. Therefore, the Rigases five of nine votes had no voting power when affiliate transactions between Adelphia and the Rigases were being reviewed and approved.
Sounds like we have a few Rigas haters in this comment forum. I will probably direct most of my comments in here towards the "former employee." You stated in your first reply that the interview was not one of John's best performances. If you faced 15 years crimes you didn't commit, would you light up the screen? If this is the former employee I feel it is, I believe you would fill up more of the screen than anything. I bet, however, you felt like he was a Broadway smash the day he hired you to work at Adelphia. I bet you enjoyed the perks of HSBC Arena as well. Let me tell you a little something about greed and stealing from a company. You know, there is this Charlie Raptis character. I lived near him for a short period of time when my home burnt in 2002. I worked at Adelphia on the 2:30 P.M to 11:00 P.M. shift at the Roumali Building. I had to pass his home everyday to go to work. You know what I noticed? Charlie's black BMW convertible. Yeah, BMW, and yeah, at 2 in the afternoon, home. I know Charlie didn't walk to work, no way. He didn't do anything he didn't have to. On top of that, I lived near him in the winter and walking was out of the question anyway. But is that stealing time from the company? Yes. If someone needed Charlie, he was usually easy to find. At home on his lazy behind taking his 8 hour lunch break. He got paid to sit home and eat, and sleep, and drive a BMW. He got paid for his testimony against a family, albeit distant, his family. It further lends creedence to my belief that the former employee that is posting on here is Charlie. Why? Because Charlie is a coward. He turned his back on John and the boys for more money. That people, is greed. He won't identify himself on here, and he ran for cover when it came time to stand up for them the way they did him. That is a coward. Charlie Raptis was a loafer at best. Unqualified for any position in the company, even maintenance. He couldn't maintain an honest workday let alone a building. Charlie, we worked hard at our jobs and we never could take them for granted the way you did. If we were found home during a workday the way you were and it wasn't a life threatening situation, you best believe we didn't have a job the following day. That is stealing your paycheck. I hear you are not quite the salesman. What did your career at Adelphia teach you? To go home at noon and check your digital boxes and remote controls all day? You must be educated in the cable tv world, at least the sitting in the recliner part of it. You know it is sad when you speak so bad of the Rigas family, yet were first in line to soak up every perk you could and take advantage of them and other employees when you saw fit. You loved being Charlie Raptis, relative to the founding family, but not even close to a model employee. Without them you would be nothing. George Cretekos. Long story short, George was Director of Aviation because of his friendship with Tim Rigas. The only thing George knew about airplanes was that they had wings. He was a poor boss and a pompous jerk. Now George's reputation in Wellsville took a hit because prosecutors used him for his weak testimony against the Rigas family. When they needed him no more, he went back to being boss and then it was discovered George was hardly at work and was mismanaging the Aviation department and he got FIRED! Yep, George took the easy way. And it showed by the lack of leadership he displayed after his once close ally, whom he testified against, was no longer there. George couldn't get away with golfing every other day at the Wellsville Country Club. He couldn't not answer his company cell phone when someone needed him for his so-called "Aviation and leadership expertise." The new CEO and CFO and upper management, although not who we wished it still was, at least eliminated a rotten apple from its basket. I bet George knows what it feels like to be used now. Anyhow, these are just two pathetic silver spoon fed moochers who bit the hands that fed them. I can't believe I wasted this time in my life to type about them, but I feel for the Rigas family. They are dear to me and always will be. For two punks to be as greedy as Charlie and George. I appreciate what they have done for the communities in Potter County and Southern and Western NY. They locked up innocent men for trying to make a company better. If any CEO's read this, do some extensive researching throughout your business and root out employees that have the characteristics of the two I just described. Perhaps it will save you money in the long run.
Sounds like we have a few Rigas haters in this comment forum. I will probably direct most of my comments in here towards the "former employee." You stated in your first reply that the interview was not one of John's best performances. If you faced 15 years crimes you didn't commit, would you light up the screen? If this is the former employee I feel it is, I believe you would fill up more of the screen than anything. I bet, however, you felt like he was a Broadway smash the day he hired you to work at Adelphia. I bet you enjoyed the perks of HSBC Arena as well. Let me tell you a little something about greed and stealing from a company. You know, there is this Charlie Raptis character. I lived near him for a short period of time when my home burnt in 2002. I worked at Adelphia on the 2:30 P.M to 11:00 P.M. shift at the Roumali Building. I had to pass his home everyday to go to work. You know what I noticed? Charlie's black BMW convertible. Yeah, BMW, and yeah, at 2 in the afternoon, home. I know Charlie didn't walk to work, no way. He didn't do anything he didn't have to. On top of that, I lived near him in the winter and walking was out of the question anyway. But is that stealing time from the company? Yes. If someone needed Charlie, he was usually easy to find. At home on his lazy behind taking his 8 hour lunch break. He got paid to sit home and eat, and sleep, and drive a BMW. He got paid for his testimony against a family, albeit distant, his family. It further lends creedence to my belief that the former employee that is posting on here is Charlie. Why? Because Charlie is a coward. He turned his back on John and the boys for more money. That people, is greed. He won't identify himself on here, and he ran for cover when it came time to stand up for them the way they did him. That is a coward. Charlie Raptis was a loafer at best. Unqualified for any position in the company, even maintenance. He couldn't maintain an honest workday let alone a building. Charlie, we worked hard at our jobs and we never could take them for granted the way you did. If we were found home during a workday the way you were and it wasn't a life threatening situation, you best believe we didn't have a job the following day. That is stealing your paycheck. I hear you are not quite the salesman. What did your career at Adelphia teach you? To go home at noon and check your digital boxes and remote controls all day? You must be educated in the cable tv world, at least the sitting in the recliner part of it. You know it is sad when you speak so bad of the Rigas family, yet were first in line to soak up every perk you could and take advantage of them and other employees when you saw fit. You loved being Charlie Raptis, relative to the founding family, but not even close to a model employee. Without them you would be nothing. George Cretekos. Long story short, George was Director of Aviation because of his friendship with Tim Rigas. The only thing George knew about airplanes was that they had wings. He was a poor boss and a pompous jerk. Now George's reputation in Wellsville took a hit because prosecutors used him for his weak testimony against the Rigas family. When they needed him no more, he went back to being boss and then it was discovered George was hardly at work and was mismanaging the Aviation department and he got FIRED! Yep, George took the easy way. And it showed by the lack of leadership he displayed after his once close ally, whom he testified against, was no longer there. George couldn't get away with golfing every other day at the Wellsville Country Club. He couldn't not answer his company cell phone when someone needed him for his so-called "Aviation and leadership expertise." The new CEO and CFO and upper management, although not who we wished it still was, at least eliminated a rotten apple from its basket. I bet George knows what it feels like to be used now. Anyhow, these are just two pathetic silver spoon fed moochers who bit the hands that fed them. I can't believe I wasted this time in my life to type about them, but I feel for the Rigas family. They are dear to me and always will be. For two punks to be as greedy as Charlie and George. I appreciate what they have done for the communities in Potter County and Southern and Western NY. They locked up innocent men for trying to make a company better. If any CEO's read this, do some extensive researching throughout your business and root out employees that have the characteristics of the two I just described. Perhaps it will save you money in the long run.
Amen to the former comment (Ann 8/17). Thank you for saying what I perceived as well. I was riveted and captivated by the interview and could not take my eyes off the interviewee. I listened intently to every word he said. Perhaps my bias was looking out for those who have achieved a great deal and who are unjustly maligned and misrepresented. Mr. Regis' description of the media treatment he received was extremely well-conceived and articulated. I walked away from the interview knowing that the real crown of integrity can never be taken away. Perhaps such assurance will sustain him through this horrific situation. I have not thoroughly researched this case, but the interview revealed it to have the earmarks of false accusation, and if there is any truth to it, a mishandling of claims, and furthermore, injudicious and negligent character assault.
I thought Mr. Rose's interview with John Rigas was excellent. By the end of the show, any objective viewer should clearly have concluded that John Rigas was inherently incapable of undertaking deception of any kind, let alone engaging in criminal actions. His demeanor, his eyes, his body language, and the inflections in his voice consistently reflected a man of solid integrity. I commend Mr. Rose for having given Mr. Rigas the opportunity to appear on the show. I also commend Mr. Rose for the way he sensitively handled the interview -- given how fraught with emotion it was on the part of the interviewee. I would surmise that most of the negative comments that have appeared on this website so far come from people whose minds were irreversibly biased before they even watched the interview or from people who simply like being negative about anyone who has, or once had, either wealth or power.
As I recall, the Adelphia disclosure statement prior to 2002, said that either party could borrow up to the full amount of the co-borrowing facility, $3.2B. Any discerning investor should have assumed that the full amount had been borrowed. Deloitte, the auditors, and Buchanan, the SEC experts - just look at Carl Rothenberger's online CV - knew the amount of the loans, the inter-company balances and they approved it. Just because folks do not understand the cash management system that was in place, does not mean it wasn't accurate and legal as the experts obviously thought it was. Most of the Adelphia employee that took the stand for the government were less than truthful - Charlie Raptis, Linda Pekarski, George Cretekos and, of course, Jim Brown. The highly paid and bonus Raptis was a VP and everyone knew he was too lazy to ever go to work for more than a couple hours per day - he's now a very unsuccessful real estate agent in N. Carolina! Cretekos, also got a huge raise and bonus and he's now a big time seller of music at the local shop in Wellsville - what great executives they obviously were to have such important jobs now! If the Rigases had faults, it was keeping losers like that on the payroll! So maybe these big time important fellas should stop posting on the board and get busy trying to support their families!!
Rigses made Adelphia pay $10,000 for church dues for the famnily. Rigas made Adelphia pay $242,000,000 for personal stock margin loans. Rigas made Adelphia pay $500 for a performer at his daughter's wedding. Rigases made Adelphia pay $36,000 for a personal trainer. These things have nothing to do with the auditors or banks. These are simply criminal activities.
So all this interviw was about George Bush's ratings were down therefore they got him down!! the white house chose him from the pool of coporate criminals to bring back the billions he stole!!!!! very believable!!! why not just pay them off and keep on stealing!!!liers keep lying until they forget about their lies and start in believing them!!! please charlie no more!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe charlie gave air time to this greedy criminal who doesn't even have anything to say...disgusting!!!!!
Indeed, 5 of the 9 member of the Board of Directors were Rigas family members. Hence, John indicating that the Board approved certain things really falls on deaf ears. John took $66,000,000 in monthly stipends WITH NO PAPERWORK TO DOCUMENT IT AS A LOAN, NO STATED INTEREST RATE, AND NO PROMISE TO PAY IT BACK IN WRITING. The Rigases owned the Buffalo Sabres personally - yet gave the NHL $10,000,000 worth of ADELPHIA TREASURY STOCK as their 'personal' deposit to the league. There was no witch hunt. Tim Rigas couldn't rationally explain the $3,000,000,000 in family debt that was a footnote on Adelphia's financials - so obviosuly the stock analysts had to be concerned, and so did the SEC. Once the SEC started looking at things, they found some gruesome details and the investigation continued. No witch hunt - just fact finding once Tim blew it. Rigases 'sold' $14,000,000 worth of property to Adelphia in 1994 - yet never signed over deeds to Adelphia until the trial began (2004). Rigases made Adelphia spend $13,000,000 on a golf course not owned by Adelphia. Rigases made Adelphia spend $20,000,000 for thousands of acres of hardwood near John's residence - what's that have to do with the cable tv business? Rigases made Adelphia spend $15,000,000-$20,000,000 on furniture purchases from Elenis Furniture - THEIR OWN FURNITURE STORE - with no competetive bidding process. Rigases made Adelphia spend/loan over $3,000,000 to Ellen Rigas so she could produce a movie. The Rigases had over 25 Adelphia provided vehicles for thier use (gas and insurance too). I think John and Tim had over 17 between the two of them alone. Ellen Rigas lived in a company owned New York City apartment RENT FREE for years (she paid rent after the scandal broke). John's main defense witness testified that John allowed him to stay in a Rigas owned condo in Cancun Mexico. What his witness didn't know was that John Rigas billed Adelphia thousands of dollars for this 'company' guest to stay at his personal condo! The lack of defense at the trial was astounding. All through the trail (and before) Rigases said 'wait until we get to tell our side of the story.' We're still waiting. Mr. Rigas was, for the most part, an honorable man who liked to do good things for others. However, if you rob a bank and give the money away, you still robbed the bank and committed a crime.
I know John Rigas, and I worked for John Rigas in the early 90's with frequent and direct contact with him. This whole witch hunt of a truly honest man has been shamefully disgusting. So many "expert" opinions here and other places who never sat and spoke to this man. So many people who assert that he's a bad person, but who never sat with the man to hear his concerns over doing the right thing. Who miss the point that everything that they did was disclosed, and APPROVED in the daylight by Deloitte and Touche and Buchanon Ingersoll. Yes, alot of people got hurt financially, but has it ever occurred to those of you who want to take a shot at the easy target, that it was malfeasance by the so-called industry experts (Deloitte and Buchanon) and a governmental witch hunt by ambitous prosecutors that caused the market to tank on this stock? Does it ever occur to one of you who criticize this man that had these people not done their thing that Adelphia would be in business today and no one would have lost jobs, homes and money. Bad things happened, and yes it's easy to blame the Rigas'...but the truth is, they were not the villians in this case, but the martyrs. John is a hero, and while I wish he would have taken the plea bargain for himself and his family, I know that his level of integrity is the highest I have ever known and he would never give up a lie like that, even to save himself. I dare say that not a single critic of John Rigas would ever have the character and and courage to do the same....that's part of what makes him now and for eternity an American hero. God Bless You, John, for your integrity, for taking the harder road for truth and not selling out, and for weathering the stinging arrows of lies and betrayal after the love and fairness you've showered this world with. Justice is done in the end for all, the saints and the sinners.
Amnesia was real contagious during the trial. Its amazing how almost every witness that was employed by adelphia was given big pay raises, bonuses, big severence pay. Even the Investors the gov. brought in for witnesess to say they lost money on the stock actually continued to buy the stock when the price went down. Because they thought it was a good buy. The Director Dennis coyle testified for three days about the board meetings and under cross examination had to recant testimony. The judge said it was grounds for a mistrial but never exercised. Thank you Directors, Jim Brown (I hope you get 20 for being a liar) Charlie for a severe case of amnesia, Linda for your big pay raise and bonus, for not telling the whole truth. Chris thurner for not beating up my candy machine whenever it argued with you (NUT Case) Should of been put away in an institution long time ago. Can't believe he even worked for Mr. Rigas.
In the beginning, I struggled with compassion watching this interview of Mr. Rigas trying to find and grasp onto something he was saying that might help me to understand him, to clear up these financial discrepancies he says were publicly mislead in the press and yet I could not find very much of anything that alleviated my disbelief that indeed a major disapprobation of 3 billion dollars were siphoned off of the company, Adelphia. I heard Mr. Rigas say that no one committed fraud neither Jim Brown, himself, or his two sons and that the only mistake that was made was not that Jim Brown was a dishonest man and the only *mistake* Jim Brown made was that he lied. Mistake? Lying to the auditors, lawyers, public bodies and you can only define that as being a *mistake*â?¦Even to turn around later and recant your story is a *lieâ?? in itself. I would pose a question to Mr. Rigas. Did the CEOs of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, ImClone and the other corporate greedy heads ALL make the same *mistake* by lying to the public bodies and therefore should be acquitted of their crimes? I did not know that 5 of 9 board members as one author on this forum stated were family. This does cast a new light on my opinionâ?¦as I was sitting here wondering how it is that Mr. Rigas was saying that the board signed off on it..the board signed off on it he kept sayingâ?¦when it was just a simple case of math arithmetic. Five of the Nine Board Members were family or family related. Well if indeed this is a *fact* then that would mean that the family is a majority rule. Did the majority rule in family favor *fear* prosecution when the time came to support the family Rigas? Mr. Rigas was buying stock from the company he said to gain more power and more influence over the company. I find it interesting that the board already had by over half a vote of the board members to approve these co-loans as he put it. Statements he made such as..Adelphia could not afford to buy certain properties and so the Rigas family took on the debt with the intention of transferring the newly acquired properties over to Adelphia. All of these transactions Mr. Rigas says were legal but obviously they were ambiguous and transparent in nature. Clearly it does not take much to see through the smoke screens. I would conclude my comment by saying that the 3 billion dollar *mistake* by Mr. Rigas and family being just that..will cost them dearlyâ?¦further, as it already has. Indeed as Charlie said *it is a human tragedy* and I would tag another sentence to that to sayâ?¦it is also an *American tragedy*.
I am not a late night channel surfer. I was alerted to the pending interview on Friday after talking to John's wife, Doris that afternoon. I want to thank you, Mr. Rose for totally shifting your normal schedule so John could finally speak. That he was not his finest form was noticable, but the man most of us know came through. John and Tim are members in good standing in one of the two Episcopal churches that I have been serving since May 1, 2002. John was church treasurer for 35 years, served on the Vestry and always took an active interest in his church and the broader community. His wife and all of his children were baptised and confirmed in my church. As I read through some of the comments posted over the past few days, I especially add my "Amen" to those posted by Robert on Aug. 11 at 2:21 PM and just before that, the comments by Jaimee on the same date at 2:05 PM. With the moral and limited financial support of my Bishop at the time of the trial, I journeyed into NYC at my own exspense for as much of the trial as I could be present for. I assure you, James Brown is not the only one who lied under oath. He is simply the one with the current, clearest evidence of having done so. There is so much more to this whole case than has ever been made public. And there was clear evidence given during the trial which continues to be buried in yellow-journalism. The pilot and manifest for the business trip which had a Christmas tree in cargo testified during the trial. Yet we never hear of the business-related trip with Tim and other executives. And how many people know that the infamous slippers were $2/pair disposable wrapped slippers for use by guests and clients - purchased in bulk for Beaver Creek to keep clorinated water from the jacuzi from staining the carpet? And what purpose did they serve in a case involving complex accounting for bank loans. I would most appreciate a follow-up interview with Michael and James so they can provide further answers and explanation for many of the still open questions. And for such a follow-up I would make myself stay awake to watch your show one more time.
Ms O'Neill- Can you provide us a direct source verbatim on this $1mil/month allowance for John? You seem to like to talk big, as if you know something. However you come across sounding bitter and ignorant and throwing quotes around that have no merit to them. Did you madam work for Adelphia? I do not really think so, in fact I do not think you had anything to do with Coudersport at all. My guess you may be part of the shareholders (do you want to talk about greed there???) or part of your "beloved" Sabres (what a joke, if the only thing you can think of as "beloved" is a sports team that is pathetic!) The deal is- guilty or no, John did a lot for the community of Coudersport and its surrounding areas and guilty or no- there were other people who simply walked free. The people in Coudersport who's lives were affected by this know exactly whom I am referring to.
So, some simple lawyering would have saved the day for Rigas..... "if you don't understand the crime don't give the man time" and Rigas didn't murder anyone. "If the glove doesn't fit you must acquit" and everyone knows he did murder someone. Having been involved with forensic accounting my entire careet I could not even begin to understand what Rigas actually did.... and Jim Brown testifying two ways in two different trials, the appeal is a slam dunk, even more so than wmd in Iraq. When the U.S. attorney's office is engaged in this type of trial and has the full force of all the lawyers, investigators, accountants, computer specialist, spin specialists, forget it, you are going down.
Sure this is sad, but not for this confused, old man. This is sad for McKean and Potter County, the families left behind, and the former employees, like myself, who will never have a clear answer. I am NOT on this man's side whatsoever and never have been. I'm elated both of them are going to jail, and have no sympathy for these people - rich, chauvanistic jerks. The quality of this area and the people who were employed there was sound from the start, and it's sad for US, and only us, that the company failed. Don't pity these guys, they don't deserve it. Feel sorry for the families that were recruited from around the country to move to Coudersport and then lost their livelihoods trying to sell homes on depreciated real estate after the company fell. Feel sorry for the townsfolk in Coudersport and the surrounding communities (as far as 2 hours away) who were born and raised there and now have to watch the area fall to pieces. Sure, the rest of rural America is suffering too, but it could have been different if not for this selfish family. The whole situation is a corporate mess, but the lack of accountability you witnessed with Charlie is the same reason this company self-destructed.
I don't know whether or not John Rigas and his son are guilty as charged. But neither does the jury. For a long time, I have believed that our justice system is broken. How in the world can 12 people of diverse backgrounds decern truth when professional lawyers on both sides of a case aren't searching for truth but only trying to win. It's a game that ruins lives. Lawyers are trained to try convince the jury to believe their side, even if the lawyer doesn't believe it. We need a system of professional jurist who are trained in the law so that they are not so easily fooled by talented lawyers or even judges. Regarding Mr. Rigas's guilt or innocence, I will say that it seems to me that Mr. Rigas would not have agreed to be interviewed by Charlie Rose if he had anything to hide. I agree with the viewer/commenter who said the media seemed to side with the prosecution from the beginning.
I don't think this man or the Adelphia saga deserves this show's attention - but I'm sure Charlie Rose thought it would be more interesting and that his guest would be more competent to hold a logical conversation - guess not. I'm guessing that Mr. Rose regrets accepting this national spotlight interview request by Rigas. Charlie could almost take the night off with this interview - except he had to keep prodding and redirecting it along the way. This was not Mr. Rigases best performance. He is in distress and it shows - and the tough questions are indeed tough to answer it appears. Frankly, Mr. Rigas sounded like a bumbling idiot throughout and I felt pretty bad for him. No wonder his lawyers advised him not to testify. He said it himself - the biggest mistake he made was to go into too much debt. Notice he doesn't say, 'we should have testified or we should have been better prepared with witnesses or we should have had a better defense in general.' There was virtually no defense at the trial for the Rigases - and that speaks volumes. I give credit to Mr. Rigas for speaking out - albeit it a little late. He has done some wonderful things in his lifetime and he at least deserves to be heard by those who want to hear his story. However, the evidence presented at trial is easier to understand than Mr. Rigases claim that 'our auditors and lawyers and Adelphia employees were all scared and therefore unavailable to help out the Rigas defense. Excuse me? I think all witnesses were cross examined and Rigases could have certainly called any other witnesses they wanted to. By the way, I'm not sure why he keeps saying 'the Board approved this and the Board approved that and Board told us to buy cable systems, etc..' We all know that 5 of the 9 Board members were all Rigas family members. The Board did what the Rigases wanted it to do. The inference by Mr. Rigas that the Board was in some way disconnected from the Rigases is absurd and misleading. On this point alone, he loses all credibility with me. Now their defense lies on Rule 33. Only Jim Brown knows if he himself lied on the witness stand. He did admit he is a liar - so it should be no surprise to anybody. And Rigases did have the chance to cross examine him. Now Judge Sands needs to decide if Jim's potential lies were material enough to change the outcome. There were 15 other witnesses too - and I don't hear anybody saying that they lied. Godspeed to ya Mr. Rigas.
no eye contact, no "guilt" for anything, he was only "helping the community"...poor little billionaire with a classic case of fraud....
Sorry for my original posting. Hopefully this will be more readable: Thank you, Charlie Rose, for providing an interesting look at the other side of the Adelphia story. It is clear that up until now most of the press has simply echoed the prosecutor's statements. And, the fact is, ANYONE can be made to look bad if someone else is bent on doing so. For example, the pope, who is certainly an admirable and pious figure, fancies a very expensive designer brand of shoe (Prada!) and designer sunglasses (no vow of poverty here) which fact a prosecutor bent on trying to "dirty him up" in front of a jury could posture as being highly extravagant, morally questionable and a questionable use of his or the Church's money. The difference between the Adelphia case and other seems to be that the Rigases are not trying to say, "Yes, bad things were done, but we didn't know about them". Rather Mr. Rigas said everything that was done was known by EVERYONE - the auditors, the lawyers, the investment bankers, the commercial bankers and the outside directors. And, even the analysts on the March 27th call could have calculated the amount of the "co-borrowing debt" if they had previously been interested in doing so. However, when the SEC started to investigate whether there was any wrong-doing, everyone ran for the hills. Acts of self-preservation ruled the day; for example, the almost laughable 8K filing in July spear-headed by the outside directors which read like a novel, it was so full of self-serving propaganda. And, without an expert accounting witness for the prosecution, how could a lay-jury understand what the accounting standards were and whether or not Adelphai adhered to them? As I recall from reports of the trial, the judge repeatedly asked when an expert witness would take the stand, but it NEVER happened. How can a juror make a fair and impartial judgment if no one other than the prosecutor (a lawyer, not an accountant!) told them how the accounting should work? Remember, the defense was hamstrung by the near-impossible task of finding anyone with the guts to stand up and say what really happened - Adelphia had prohibited its employees from talking to the Rigases, and the auditors, lawyers, and others were terrified that they would be the next to be criticized. Even if you thought you had done nothing wrong, after seeing how others were treated, wouldn't you be terrified by the prospect of the government turning its microscope on you? This doesn't sounds like a fair trial. More like a lynching. And, frighteningly, something that could happen again.
Thank you, Charlie Rose, for providing an interesting look at the other side of the Adelphia story. It is clear that up until now most of the press has simply echoed the prosecutorâ??s statements. And, the fact is, ANYONE can be made to look bad if someone else is bent on doing so. For example, the pope â?? certainly an admirable and pious figure - fancies a very expensive designer brand of shoe (Prada!) and designer sunglasses (no vow of poverty here) which fact a prosecutor bent on trying to â??dirty him upâ?? in front of a jury could posture as being highly extravagant, morally questionable and a questionable use of the either his or the Churchâ??s money. The difference between the Adelphia case and others seems to be that the Rigases are not trying to say, â??Yes, bad things were done, but we didnâ??t know about themâ??. Rather Mr. Rigas said everything that was done was known by everyone â?? the auditors, the lawyers, the investment bankers, the commercial bankers and the outside directors. And, even the analysts on the March 27th call could have calculated the amount of the â??co-borrowing debtâ?? if they had previously been interested in doing so. However, when the SEC started to investigate whether there was any wrong-doing everyone ran for the hills. Acts of self-preservation ruled the day; for example, the almost laughable 8k filing in July, spear-headed by the outside directors â?? which read like a novel, it was so full of self-serving propaganda. And, without an expert accounting witness for the prosecution, how could a lay-jury understand what the accounting standards were and whether or not Adelphia adhered to them? As I recall from reports of the trial, the judge repeatedly asked when an expert accounting witness would take the stand, but it NEVER happened. How can a juror make a fair and impartial judgment if no one other than the prosecutor (a lawyer, not an accountant!) told them how the accounting should work? Remember, the defense was hamstrung by the near -impossible task of finding anyone with the guts to stand up and say what really happened â?? Adelphia had prohibited its employees from talking to the Rigases, and the auditors, lawyers, and others were terrified that they would the next to be criticized. Even if you thought you had done nothing wrong, after seeing how others were treated, wouldnâ??t you be terrified by the prospect of the government turning its microscope on you? This doesnâ??t sound like a fair trial. More like a lynching. And, frighteningly, something that could happen again.
As a valued member of our community, Mr. Rigas, kudos to you for giving Charlie Rose, a consummate professional, an interview. One can only wish you had done this on the stand. What did you pay the attorney's for? They should be ashamed of themselves, and sending your family a refund. You paid for next to nothing. Perhaps a motion for incompetent counsel should be considered?
I have, as many other people have, noticed that Charlie is able to get interviews with people because he allows them to tell "their story." In general I appreciate that - sometimes it becomes a bit much when he does not correct mis-statements by powerful people who are obviously using his show to spin a story their way. But on the whole I have felt that the advantages of having these people on the Charlie Rose show out weights its disadvantages. Unfortunately, I cannot see what public service is achieved by allowing John Rigas air time on the show. Charlie's set up to the interview was, frankly, offensive. When should the rich and famous be treated differently than other people (I recall a statement by Mr. Rose during the Martha Stewart trial that indicated he thought should not be prosecuted, which rub me the wrong way too). If Mr. Rose wants to be used by rich and powerful people to "get out their story" - something rich and powerful people general don't have a hard time doing - so that he can reap the advantages of being a tool for these people, I guess it is all well and fine. But if this is his version of an American tragdy, then he has been spending a bit too much time on the corporate jets of his friends. Despite my spleen, I do like the Charlie Rose Show. But this bias is a real real weakness on Charlie's part. Patrick
While this may not go down as one of the most glamorous interviews, it surely just might be one of the most interesting ones in the last couple of years. One has to give credit to Mr. Rose for letting the man speak, regardless of whethere or not Mr. Rigas is guilty or innocent.
I've known the Rigas' my entire life. They grew too big too fast...where's the crime? They followed their accountants and bankers obviously ill-advised advice, to no avail. They have helped our community as well as Buffalo's whether those idiots realize it or not. Why the government would listen to a weasel like Jim Brown, is beyond all comprehension.
Thank you for your interview with John Rigas, which proves he's innocent. They went by the authority of their accounts, so how are they to blame? When is Jim Brown going to be sentenced and go to jail????
Charlie Rose, thank you for showing your viewers a poignant interview with Mr. Rigas, who's honesty and integrity shined; even through his pain. It's obvious this man is the furthest thing from a criminal...and a scapegoat for our "government". I wonder how much money the Rigas family contributed to the republican party????
re rigas interview i'm a corporate lawyer in canada. while i don't know all the rigas litigation, the essence is clear. rigas lives in a fantasy world. he and his family apparently raped and pillaged adelphia; to the disadvantage of employees, creditors and shareholders. there are many others who have done the same. rigas is getting his due. things are getting better for shareholders, based on fines, damages and especially jail time for self dealing fiduciaries/directors & majority shareholders. things are getting better altho there will always be greedy people. jm
John Rigas "seemed" like a guy who may have borrowed a lollypop at the candy store. He didn't believe he had a fair trial even though he could afford the best legal defense? I applaud him for his entrepreneurial spirit, but am disgusted by the greed that brought him down. Adelphia's Rigases Report to Prison Monday August 13, 12:11 pm ET By Martha Waggoner, Associated Press Writer Former Adelphia Executives John and Tim Rigas Report to Prison in N.C. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- After fighting one of the nation's largest corporate fraud cases, former Adelphia Communications executives John and Timothy Rigas reported Monday to a federal prison in North Carolina. ADVERTISEMENT Adelphia founder John Rigas and his son Tim, the company's former chief financial officer, were convicted in 2004 on multiple charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, but had remained free while their appeals navigated the courts system. The pair had asked that they be allowed to serve their time together at a facility close to their homes in Coudersport, Pa. Instead, the federal Bureau of Prisons sent them to the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, located about 45 minutes northwest of Raleigh. They were registered at 10:35 a.m. Monday at the complex's low-security prison, said Mike Truman, a federal prisons spokesman in Washington. Prosecutors claimed the Rigases made Adelphia's finances appear more robust when they were in fact dangerously overextended by concealing nearly $2.3 billion of the company's debt. They also accused the family of using company funds to finance personal follies, including 100 pairs of slippers for Timothy Rigas and more than $3 million to product a film by John Rigas' daughter. Another of John Rigas' sons, Michael Rigas, also received 10 months of home confinement after pleading guilty to making a false entry in a company record.
John Riga's greed and arrogance destroyed many people, their communities and their families. His reputation of not paying his contractors was known throughout the cable industry. Factoring companies loved Adelphia. Now we all know why he didn't pay his bills, his whole family had their hand in the tills. They all belong in jail.
Like many other writers here -- channel surfing and came across the John Rigas interview. Looking beyond the words and into the spirit of the man himself, what I saw was akin to a real life George Bailey. It was one exchange with Charlie that lasted just scant seconds where Charlie addressed John as "Sir" and commented about good things John had done in his life to help people and the community. Johns response was I'm surprised anyone noticed. In that moment was the true character of the man revealed. Thanks, Charlie, for allowing me a glimpse at the real story.
I'm a regular viewer and usually come away more informed, but the interview with John Rigas left me frustrated. I only knew the basic outlines of the story and listening to a sick elderly man tell his side of it was not enlightening. It would have been much more informative to have a discussion with a few business writers who know the details and could offer real insights into what happened. I watched the whole hour hoping some point would emerge, but it was just a rambling apologia and a waste of time, I'm sorry to say.
Calling our congressional representatives is the ONLY way to draw attention to this serious injustice! Call and ask your congressman to read the Rigases filing regarding the lies of Jim Brown and to make certain Judge Leonard Sand treats the ruling fairly and grants a new trial for John & Tim Rigas.
Bully for you,Charlie, for giving John Rigas his chance. My appreciation has left me tongue-tied.
Putting this man in prison is insane. As near as I could tell, all this man is guilty of is being OLD. He should be released pending the appeals. Itâ??s the only human thing to do.
John Rigas is a gracious man and an exemplary human being. To know him is to love him and feel compassion for his family. If you haven't met him, that's your loss. Please don't cast judgement. Leave that to the judges who hopefully will not be afraid to objectively examine this case with open minds and compassionate hearts... and deliver a just verdict.
The key here is John's testimony on corporate greed on behalf of the board, Let's keep our ears open on this one.....Where were those who needed to support him? Gone, to the bank to check their accounts! John stated the government is to powerful! They scared those who could not receive a blessing and afford to put up a fight in court. The Bush task force,Hmm! All will have to give account to Alighty God. Let's keep in mind his loans were being paid and he did not default. The board chose a way to get rid of his authority and vote him out by swindling into bancruptcy. The Los Angeles system management had no clue of the Los Angeles community and were afraid of their own shadows and did not help the cause of worker unity. Thus when chaos broke out, well...., we know what flows downhill? And now they want to eliminate the public access community television systems John generously prescibed to keep jobs in all of America's cities.
Was very interested to catch most of the show last night, to finally see and hear John Rigas in person and to see Charlie Rose bring attention to what for a long time I had generally judged to be the Adelphia fiasco. I first became aware of the Adelphia case when serving on an all day mock-jury focus group quite a few years ago before the actual trial took place. I came away that day after a thorough overall description of the facts of the case with several conclusions: First - I believed that what the company was doing from an acounting perspective and from a strategy perspective was legal and legitament. Most of the others serving that day admittedly had no experience in understanding the facts presented to us. Secondly, the Rigas' themselves were invested completely and investing in their own growth strategies. They along with the shareholders had everything to loose or to gain. My particular sense and judgement then was that the government(during that aggressive era) by bringing the case against Adelphia had actually undermined the strategies in place, as well as, the market value of the company and set in motion the stock decline that ultimately led to the bankruptcy proceedings. It was therefore not surprising to hear some of the inside commentary presented last night. I'm certain that Mr. Rigas was correct when pointing out that the Company - now owned by others - would currently have a market value of around $35 billion, and his family, friends and fellow shareholders would be much better off if the lawyers for the government had directed their attention to real fraudulent matters elseware. One last judgement: The sentencing, uncompassionate judge is also another example of shortsighted, politically motivated, bureaucratic, governmental thinking.I expect that the appeals judge will have a broader view of the case. Thank you Charlie Rose for your continuing salient show.
Rigas is 82, very ill and obviously at death's door. Throwing him in jail to await his end is worse than cruel. Rigas is ruined. So be it. But don't commit him to jail. He's already been destroyed. If jailed, odds are that he will kill himself. What does that accomplish?
. . . and a dumbed-down jury is supposed to comprehend the ins and outs of a case like this? Give me a break.
Mr. Rigas's passing reference in Charlie's interview to "High Noon" is most apt. DeLoitte & Touche, which signed off on the audits and collected millions from Adelphia to keep the corporation and family out of trouble, ran and hid (paying millions in a settlement with Uncle Sam to avoid having to face the music). High-priced legal representatives who advised the corporation and the family were also nowhere to be found when accountability time came -- indeed, High Noon. Even in an hourlong interview, there was simply no way to even scratch the surface of the technical legal arguments that jurors ("peers?") from the streets of Manhattan were supposed to comprehend during the marathon trial. Many believe this is a travesty of justice. All would seem to agree that, for everyone concerned, it is a tragedy. Thanks to Charlie Rose for allowing a small glimmer of truth to shine through all of the exaggerations and misrepresentations that have marked this politically motivated government witch hunt.
Why Charlie Rose gave national air time to this scoundrel is beyond me. And he delayed an important guest on the Iraq war to do it. Most ridiculous was Rigas' claim that he had not had the opportunity to air his side, blaming the fear of associates. Yet he had all the opportunity to do that at trial and declined. No doubt for the reason that the prosecutors would have ripped him to shreds instead of giving him the soft ball interview of Rose.
Charlie is so good at listening to people and letting them say their points. John Rigas is a real scoundrel but was allowed to air his side. I was trading full time when he did the perp walk and followed his case. Charlie is one of the greatest people on the air. I appreciate you, Charlie.
As per Ms. O'Neill, the lady who posted the comment above me, I too happened to come across the interview with John Rigas while channel surfing. However, I completely disagree with her comments. I am a former employee of Adelphia Communications and I saw first hand how things were handled in that company. In the last few minutes that I saw, Mr. Rigas had mentioned the discrepancies that were given by Jim Brown between the criminal trial and the civil trials. He however did not mention the fact that Jim had turned state's evidence in order to not be tried with the Rigas family. Having personally met and interacted with Jim Brown, Mr. Rigas' description of him as being cautious was very nice. Jim was down right shady and I would not be the least bit surprised that he was doing things behind the Rigas family's back. The documented testimony speaks for itself that he will say anything to save his own skin. Ms. O'Neill comments that John Rigas blames everyone but himself for his misfortune. He did acknowledge throughout the program that there were things that he should have done differently. Not because the things that he had done were illegal, but because of how things have been twisted and construed. You can't truly believe that there wasn't the least bit of government conspiracy going on, especially with Enron, in the spotlight at the time. Admit it, President Bush is from Texas and has in the past been very involved in not just the oil business, but also the energy business. You don't believe that maybe, just maybe his "clean up corporate America" campaign was just a way of taking the limelight off from his buddies? The Rigas' voluntarily resigned from Adelphia and turned their lifelong business that they started 50 some odd years ago to someone else. (That was a very difficult day for not only the Rigas family, but also for employees at Adelphia and every citizen of not only Coudersport, but Potter County and the surrounding areas.)They were willing to turn themselves in, that was why they were in New York City the day they were arrested. However, instead of being able to do what they had gone to New York to do, they were made a public example of. President Bush proving his point that he was going to clean up corporate America. However, you didn't see Kenny Lay being lead away in handcuffs day after day on the nightly news, did you? Another point that I need to disagree with Ms. O'Neill about is Mr. Rigas' charecter in general. She mentioned that "he had no presence in the community that did not benefit him or his sons". I am sorry, but Mr. Rigas is one of the most down to earth and kind people that you could ever meet. It was nothing to go to lunch on a busy work day or even to Sunday brunch and see John sitting at a table sipping on a cup of coffee and reading the paper. If you were to pass him on the street, he always, even to this day stops to say hello and ask how you are doing. Unlike many business CEO's who don't even acknowledge your presence. Just because he did not serve on the many "charitable" organizations that Ms. O'Neill serves on does not mean he did not do things for other people. Up until the rise of Adelphia, Coudersport and Potter County as a whole, was a severely depressed area. The main source of income for many was public assistance. The booming days of railroads and lumber were many years lost and we were a struggling community. John Rigas had a vision to turn our small little area into a thriving environment...and it worked. As a result of Adelphia Communications, you no longer drove through our county seat and saw drab and depressed, but people walking down the street in business suits and new businesses popping up to serve the community. Charity is not only donating money to an organization, so you can have your name added to a plaque, it is giving a piece of yourself to help other people and John Rigas did that. John started Adelphia by buying Coudersport cable in the 1950's and slowly continued to buy from there until he grew a multi-million dollar business. As a result, he himself became very wealthy, which he turned around and put back into the community. Yes, there were promises that he made that were broken, but there are so many that were delivered on too. It takes time to slowly improve on things and good things don't pop up, they need to be nurtured, which is what John was doing. Charlie Rose had asked Mr. Rigas about the family environment of his company and John admitted that he may have made a mistake with that philosophy. However, I would never, ever, take back the years that I spent working in that environment. The bond that we, as employees had with one another is unlike that will ever be seen again. As a result, it is what made us work so hard. Adelphia was not only a job for many of us, but it was also our extended family and everyone who worked there was proud of that, even through the last few years. As a result, of our closeness it helped us to turn the company around after the bankruptcy and what would've brought us out of Chapter 11, had we not had greedy bond holders who insisted on the sale. Funny thing about it is those bond holders, a little over the year later are still fighting over how much money they are going to get and still have not seen a penny of it. July 31st of last year was one of the difficult days of my life. I had to leave Potter County, my home in order to seek employment elsewhere. I and my former co-workers have all moved on with our lives but we also all still keep in touch. I am not the only one who has had to leave the area in order to seek other employment. As more and more people leak out of the small town that Mr. Rigas changed from depressed to prosperous, I can see the drab town that I grew up in returning. Small businesses are struggling and closing, there is not as much life on Main Street at noon as there used to be, all you see are big empty building. I want to thank Charlie Rose for letting John tell his side of and try to be his true self. Instead of bullying him and making him out to be the monster that the media has portrayed him as for the past five years. I also want to thank Charlie for acknowledging the good things that Mr. Rigas has done in his life, that even John was surprised about. John Rigas is not an evil man, he is just a man who came from nothing and became something, but ended up making a some rather large mistakes along the way.
I was channel surfing and very interested to to happen upon the latter portion of Mr.Rose's interview with former Adelphia head - and convicted felon - John Rigas. He and his sons pilfered Adelphia and its shareholders and out beloved hockey team the Buffalo Sabres, which he owned, for lavish and uncontrolled spending sprees which included a home in Florida, a golf course etc. The result: He bankrupted the Buffalo Sabres and robbed Adelphia shareholders. His own son is reported to have said that his father's spending was so out of control that he had to put his father on a budgte of $1 million a MONTH! He promised so much to the community and never deliverd. I noticed in last momemts of the interview he referred to himself as concerned, compassionate, generous. Having served on numerous charitiable organizations myself, I can say that John Rigas was a now show- he was notoriously unavailable to so many organizations that might have benefitted from his support. He had no presence in the community that did not benefit him or his sons. After all of this time, Mr Rigas blames everyone from President Bush, to his lawyers and the judge for his current state of affirs. Far from the American Dream, this story ends as all Greek tragedies do -- with hubris - pride -- as their undoing.
Charlie Rose is stil broadcast on most PBS stations. Each local PBS station decides on their own programming however. Evidently your local PBS station has stopped carrying the show.