outwardly, and he was still and stoic beside me.
The government was going to make their statement first. Marnie Edmonds approached the microphones that were set up in the middle of the stairs, above the press, in her immaculate suit. Everyone got quiet. “Today is a sad day,” shesaid. “Last night, a federal grand jury came to the decision to indict one of corporate America’s most promising young stars. I would say that the decision was difficult, but in fact, the decision was unanimous. It was based on the overwhelming weight of the evidence presented.
“And this morning, federal charges were brought against one of our city’s own stars. Broden Walker is being charged with racketeering, grand larceny, obstruction of justice, and multiple other federal charges.”I watched him carefully out of the corner of my eye, but Walker didn’t flinch.
Shouts went out from the crowd, the camera flashes kept coming, but Edmonds calmly held up her hand. “During the next stage of the investigation, the government is going to explore all options, and may bring additional charges against him. The court will set the date for his arraignment shortly.”
More flashes and more shouting followed, but she stayed calm and didn’t move from the microphones just yet. “I would like to add that the government takes these charges very seriously, and we are going to pursue them vigorously. Corporate responsibility is an important part of America’s infrastructure. When a highly compensated, talented professional takes part in illegal and pernicious activities, at the expense of his shareholders and employees, that individual is responsible to all of us. That individual is responsible to his Board, his company, his shareholders, his workers and their families, and the dignity of corporate America itself. The abuse of corporate power will not be tolerated in this country. Not under my watch. So let me be clear: Broden Walker is responsible to all of us.
“And I intend to hold him fully responsible. I’m not taking questions right now,”she said, as the reporters erupted into shouts and questions. “Mr. Walker’s attorneys are going to make a brief statement and we’ll both make ourselves available to you as this develops.”
David Proctor took one deep breath, nodded at Walker and stepped up to the microphone. The crowd got quiet again, waiting. “My client,Broden Walker, is one of our country ’ s finest young CEOs,”he said smoothly. “He built his company piece by piece. He’s a brilliant, hard-working man who does significant, important work on sensitive government contracts. He’s been successful because of his natural talent, and because he works very, very hard to be the best. Broden Walker works hard because he loves his work, but also because he loves America. He loved his country when he served as a Marine, he loved it when he created technology to protect it, and he loves it now, even when he’s being prosecuted for crimes he did not commit.”David stopped for a second and flashes went off like crazy.
“Broden Walker is innocent,”David said, simply, confidently. If David didn’t believe it himself, you would never be able to tell. “He has always obeyed the laws he’s accused of breaking. He is a meticulous, honest, conscientious man. The evidence being presented against him is a complete fabrication, meant to sully his reputation and ruin his career.”A thousand flashes went off and all the reporters seemed to be shouting questions at once. David held up his hand to silence them.
“That being said, we will cooperate fully with each stage of the investigation. We’re not answering further questions right now, and my client can’t talk to any of you during the course of the investigation. Please respect his privacy and contact my firm for follow up. Thank you,”he said, and he moved as quickly as he could back to us.
“You okay?” David asked Walker, as security guards hustled us towards the