Mr. Chairman, on the point of performance pay, my recollection is that I never, contrary to what Mr. Laforest has said, authorized the maximum payable performance pay for Mr. Ewanovich and Mr. Crupi. After I had information from Mr. Lewis--that is correct. But that information was just information. I needed an audit in order to determine what really was there and what else I should do with it. The fact that somebody makes an allegation doesn't mean the allegation is proven. I needed an audit to do that.
In the subsequent year, in the most immediate performance appraisal of Mr. Ewanovich, after the audit was concluded and I determined that he and Mr. Crupi should be removed, in that year, the first opportunity I had, I authorized no performance pay for them.
Now, on the other issue that Mr. Laforest touched upon, I did remove them immediately. I removed Mr. Ewanovich from his position. As I said, Barb George took over immediately that day in his former position. I then instructed her to remove Mr. Crupi.
But as you know, in providing due process to people, the fact that you remove them from their jobs does not mean they are automatically off the books. People have leave, there are certain entitlements. That's part of due process that everybody's allowed, and that's what Mr. Ewanovich and Mr. Crupi were given. I gave my clear instructions as to what should be done on the day I received the audit--not two days later, not three days. The very day that I received the audit, I acted upon the information that I had.