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Reports on the focus on the government investigation of the Enron scandal on the documents destroyed by accounting firm Arthur Andersen in the U.S. Evidence heard by lawmakers regarding the issue; Distribution of copies of an electronic mail message received by Andersen employees; Refusal of former Andersen partner David B. Duncan to comment on the issue.

Discusses the disclosure made by Arthur Andersen that it had destroyed documents related to its audit of Enron Corporation. Statement that while there are no universal rules governing how soon an accounting firm can destroy audit documents, most accountants maintain the papers for several years; Question of what was contained in the documents destroyed by Arthur Andersen after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission began a formal investigation of Enron's collapse.

Reports that Enron was betting on the direction of gas and electricity prices, despite denials from the company's top executives. Profits that were gained during the California energy crisis; Profits that coincide with Enron's manipulation of power and natural gas prices in the West; Acknowledgment of betting from several Enron trading officials; Trading practices that are being reviewed by federal and California state investigators; Struggle of Enron to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy; Argument that Enron thought they could beat the system; Information provided by Enron that was misleading.

Reports that the United States may charge the accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Company with obstruction of justice in the investigation of Enron Corporation. Statement that federal prosecutors have prepared a multicount criminal indictment of the firm; Impact that this could have on the future of Arthur Andersen; Allegations that the company engaged in destruction of documents related to Enron.

Reports on challenges facing governmental investigators in the case of Enron. How decision by employees at Enron and its auditor, Arthur Andersen & Co. to shred documents will help investigators; Intention of the government to use the leverage of potential indictments to push possible defendants into the role of witnesses to get evidence for the broader financial investigation; Difficulty of proving financial crimes; Comparative ease of making a case for obstruction of justice.

Discusses the hearing before a United States House subcommittee into the collapse of Enron Corporation, including evidence that the company's auditors, Arthur Andersen, destroyed documents knowing they might be relevant to investigations. Refusal of David B. Duncan, an Andersen partner, to testify; Mounting impact on Washington of Enron's fall and how Enron's fortunes have intersected with politics; Comments of Arthur Levitt, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and others.

Reports on the claim made by Enron executive Maureen Castaneda that Enron employees were shredding documents as recently as mid-January, 2002. Importance of this claim to a governmental and criminal investigations into the collapse of Enron; Destruction of documents by accounting firm Arthur Andersen; Content of these shredded documents, which may contain pertinent evidence regarding Enron.