Palo Alto, Calif. — Several of the current and former Hewlett-Packard executives scheduled to speak to a House subcommittee investigating the company’s actions concerning leaks from the board of directors to the media invoked their Fifth Amendment right instead of discussing what happened.
However, former HP Chairwoman Patricia Dunn said she started the initiation in response to a request from the board, but could not remember if she discussed the investigative tactics to be used with the company’s legal counsel, according to a MarketWatch story.
HP’s general counsel Ann Baskins resigned earlier today and was among those who took the Fifth.HP senior counsel Kevin Hunsaker, former HP global security chief Anthony Gentilucci joined her in silence, said MarketWatch.
In a brief written statement HP CEO Mark Hurd thanked Baskins for her 24 years of service and for placing the company’s needs before her own.
“I want to thank Ann for 24 years of outstanding service and devotion to HP,” said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer. Stepping down was a very hard decision for her, but by doing so she has put the interests of HP above her own and that is to be commended.”
Dunn resigned last week, four months earlier than planned, and Hurd apologized to reporters at a press conference for the company’s invasive attempts to uncover which board member was leaking information to several news organizations.
Hurd is scheduled to speak to the subcommittee Thursday afternoon.
