The key catalyst for the Sarbanes$-$Oxley Act $($SOX$)$ in $2002$ was:$$

Group of answer choices

a severe downturn in U$.$S$.$ economy amid the subprime mortgage crisis.

a series of high$-$profile accounting frauds that necessitated a better monitoring of accounting practices, including the frauds related to Enron and WorldCom.

a public demand for a better monitoring of tech companies after the "bust" of the dot$-$com boom beginning in early $2001.$

None of the above