HP lawyer jumps ship as top brass plead innocence

HP's general counsel has declined to testify before a congressional committee

Shortly before HP's former chairman Patricia Dunn and chief executive Mark Hurd testified before a congressional committee, the company disclosed that its general counsel Ann Baskins has jumped ship. 

After resigning Baskins declined to testify in front of the panel, citing her Fifth Amendment right to decline to give testimony that could be self-incriminating.

Although Dunn and Hurd expressed regrets in their testimonies, neither admitted direct responsibility for the tactics that led to the HP investigation and congressional hearing.

In her testimony, a defiant Dunn continued to deny knowingly doing anything wrong when she authorised investigations into an information leak which included pretexting methods to obtain phone records from journalists and HP employees. 

"If I knew then what I know now I would have done some specific things very differently," Dunn told the panel, adding later that she does "not accept personal responsibility for what happened".

While Hurd denied involvement in the investigation he was a little more willing to accept some of the responsibility for the scandal.

"I should have been able to catch it, and I did not," he said. "In the end, I am responsible for everything that goes on at HP."

Hurd also showed support for Dunn's actions in launching the investigation. "The end came to justify the means," he said.

"Board members have a fiduciary responsibility not to disclose internal deliberations which can affect trust, board dynamics and effectiveness, nor to mention share price and market trading."

Hurd also told the panel that Dunn "took it very seriously, but acted appropriately".

His comments are largely similar to the statements made last week during a press conference at HP's Silicon Valley headquarters.

• Silicon Valley Sleuth: HP spying scandal was a crime without any culprits