SEC Examines Actions by Staffers

JUNE 3, 2009
Wall Street Journal
By KARA SCANNELL
The inspector general of the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating allegations that enforcement staff engaged in misconduct in connection with the insider trading case filed last fall against Mark Cuban.
The inspector general opened his investigation after receiving a complaint from lawyers representing Mr. Cuban, according to a semiannual report from the inspector general to Congress released Monday. The report didn't name Mr. Cuban specifically, but a person familiar with the matter confirmed the case involves Mr. Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
The report also details other investigations under way, ranging from an audit of the agency's oversight of credit-rating agencies to a probe of whether enforcement attorneys improperly disclosed information about investigations in certain cases.
"We appreciate the role of inspectors general in highlighting areas that may need improvement," said an SEC spokesman. "In fact, we have concurred with most of the recommendations stemming from the completed audits cited in the semiannual report and are implementing them as appropriate."
The inspector general, David Kotz, has released a series of reports that have shaken the agency. One of his recent probes detailed questionable trading by two SEC enforcement lawyers and prompted the agency to tighten restrictions on securities trading by employees. He is expected to release a report this summer on the agency's handling of the Bernard Madoff case.
Thursday, Mr. Cuban filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington against the SEC, alleging it didn't properly respond to his Freedom of Information Act requests seeking documents on SEC investigations that involved Mr. Cuban and his businesses.
The SEC sued Mr. Cuban in November, alleging he dumped his 6% stake in Mamma.com after learning from the company's chief executive of its plans for a share offering. Share offerings often result in declines in stock prices. The SEC alleges Mr. Cuban sold to avoid losses. Mr. Cuban denies trading on inside information.
Mr. Kotz, the inspector general, is also investigating emails Jeffrey Norris, an SEC enforcement attorney in Fort Worth, Texas, exchanged with Mr. Cuban. The emails were about Mr. Cuban's involvement in a potential movie that suggested the government was involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The SEC disciplined Mr. Norris, who it said wasn't involved in the investigation of Mr. Cuban.
According to Mr. Kotz's report to Congress, he is also conducting an audit of the SEC's oversight of credit-rating firms both before Congress gave the agency explicit oversight authority in September 2006 and after the law went into effect.