Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 04:00 pm

Apple Board says it's got Steve's back

By AppleInsider Staff

Apple Inc.'s Board of Directors on Wednesday refused to enter into a war of words with former CFO Fred Anderson, but said it has complete confidence in the integrity of chief executive Steve Jobs and the company's independent investigation into its stock options issues.

"We are not going to enter into a public debate with Fred Anderson or his lawyer," the company's Board said in a statement release just before market close. "Steve Jobs cooperated fully with Apple's independent investigation and with the government's investigation of stock option grants at Apple."

The Board went on to say that the SEC investigated the matter thoroughly and that "its complaint speaks for itself, in terms of what it says, what it does not say, who it charges, and who it does not charge."

Apple's Board is comprised of Bill Campbell, Millard Drexler, Albert Gore Jr., Arthur D. Levinson, Eric Schmidt and Jerry York.