Apple's board issued a statement sidestepping Fred Anderson's claims that he warned Steve Jobs about the repurcussions of backdating. The board statement said in full:

We are not going to enter into a public debate with Fred Anderson or his lawyer. Steve Jobs cooperated fully with Apple’s independent investigation and with the government’s investigation of stock option grants at Apple. The SEC investigated the matter thoroughly and 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. We have complete confidence in the conclusions of Apple’s independent investigation, and in Steve’s integrity and his ability to lead Apple.

Anderson says he warned jobs in January 2001 that the executive options grant would be subject to an accounting charge unless the Apple board confirmed that the grant had been agreed on January 2. Mr Anderson “was told by Mr Jobs that the board had given its prior approval and the board would verify it”, Mr Anderson’s lawyers alleged. “Fred relied on these statements by Mr Jobs and from them concluded that the grant was being propertly handled.”