Beleaguered accounting firm Andersen says the US federal government has 'no basis' to bring criminal charges against the firm for its role in the Enron scandal, according to a company document obtained by Reuters.
Andersen's combative stance appears to make a quick resolution of its myriad legal problems more difficult.
Chicago-based Andersen, in a letter to the US assistant attorney general, blasted Department of Justice plans to indict the firm.
Andersen, which has admitted shredding Enron-related documents sought by investigators, called evidence of criminal misconduct by the firm 'flimsy'.
Yesterday, rival accountancy groups Ernst and Young and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu scrapped merger talks with Andersen because of its legal woes.
