WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (HalliburtonWatch.org) -- Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, asked Vice President Dick Cheney to publicly release sworn testimony he gave to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during its two-year investigation of Halliburton's accounting practices. The SEC accused Halliburton of "materially misleading" investors when Cheney was chief executive officer for the company. The agency yesterday settled the investigation after Halliburton agreed to pay a $7.5 million fine and discontinue violating securities laws.

"The American people already have serious concerns about the Bush-Cheney Administration giving Halliburton $7 billion in no-bid Iraq contracts," said Kerry campaign spokesperson Chad Clanton. "These new reports about accounting gimmicks at Halliburton while Cheney was CEO only reinforce those concerns," he said. "It�s no wonder people think this White House has trouble with the truth and lacks credibility."

Clanton said Cheney testified under oath about Halliburton's accounting practices when Cheney was still CEO for the company. The Bush campaign confirmed the vice president also testified as early as last week. Clanton called for a full release by the SEC and the White House of documents regarding the vice president's involvement in the investigation and whether he invoked his Fifth Amendment right to decline answering any of the SEC's questions.

A Cheney spokesperson said the vice president was not involved in the accounting dispute and that his conduct "was proper in all respects."

More Information

CNN - Kerry campaign: Release Cheney's Halliburton testimony

HalliburtonWatch: Halliburton settles accounting fraud probe for $7.5 million