Steve Jobs Cleared Of Criminal Charges In Options Backdating Case

The U.S. Department of Justice as closed a criminal investigation of backdated stock options granted to Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs. No charges will be filed.

Apple announced in August 2006 that it had discovered stock option backdating concerns. Two months later, the company concluded its own internal investigation and said that there was "no misconduct" of any member of the current management team, but Apple confirmed 15 questionable grants in January 2002 and earlier. Former CFO Fred Anderson resigned from the firm’s board as a result.

Jobs’ role in this process was unclear over the past two years. In September of last year, the SEC subpoenaed the executive and a pension fund later claimed to have found evidence that Apple and Jobs may have violated SEC rules and regulations. In June of this year, there was speculation that Jobs’ public stature may be shielding him from charges.