Exclusive: Martha Stewart Tells of Fears
Oct. 13 -- Domestic diva Martha Stewart has described her fears in an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS' Barbara Walters.
In her only interview since being indicted for her sale of ImClone stock, and before going to trial in January 2004, Stewart tells Walters, "Who wouldn't be scared? Of course I'm scared. The last place I would ever want to go is prison. And I don't think I will be going to prison, though."
Stewart and broker Peter Bacanovic were charged in a nine-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. The Securities and Exchange Commission also filed a civil securities fraud lawsuit against the pair, accusing them of illegal insider trading.
The wide-ranging interview addresses the controversy around Stewart as she prepares to go to trial. It will air on ABCNEWS' 20/20 in early November.
The lifestyles maven had been under investigation for selling almost 4,000 shares of ImClone in December 2001, shortly before the Food and Drug Administration rejected the company's application for approval of a colon cancer drug. The FDA rejection sent ImClone's stock plummeting.
Criminal charges against Stewart, 62, include making false statements, and obstruction of justice. Charges against Bacanovic include perjury and obstruction, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan. Stewart has not been charged with perjury.
Martha Stewart and her former stockbroker pleaded not guilty on June 4, 2003, to the charges stemming from her sale of the stock. Stewart stepped down as CEO of her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., in June, but remains on the board.
