KANSAS CITY –A Supreme Court ruling involving disgraced Enron CEO Jeffery Skilling had a bearing on the decision Friday to drop charges against former Westar Energy executives David Wittig and Douglas Lake. In overturning most of Skilling’s convictions for looting Enron, the Supreme Court made it more difficult for prosecutors to go after business corruption. Westar said it was disappointed by Grissom’s decision. The utilty said its stockholders deserved justice for Wittig and Lake’s actions. It was the third attempt by the government to try the pair on charges they used the utility’s funds to enrich themselves. Their first trial ended in a mistrial. They were convicted for the second time but the verdict was reversed by an appeals court. Wittig did time for bank fraud in a separate case.
Monday, Aug. 23, 2 p.m.
