Longtime Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship indicted

[Ykcutnek]

Source: Charleston Gazette

Don Blankenship, the longtime chief executive of Massey Energy, was indicted today on charges that he violated federal mine safety laws at the company’s Upper Big Branch Mine prior to an April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin this afternoon informed representatives of the families of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster victims that a four-count indictment had been handed up by a federal grand jury charging Blankenship.

The indictment alleges that Blankenship conspired to cause routine, willful violations of mandatory federal mine safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch during a period from Jan. 1, 2008, to April 9, 2010, according to a notice Goodwin’s office sent to the families.

The notice also said that the indictment alleges Blankenship was part of a conspiracy to cover up mine safety violations and hinder federal enforcement efforts by providing advance warning of government inspections. The indictment also alleges that, after the explosion, Blankenship made false statements to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about Massey’s safety practices prior to the explosion, the notice to families says.

Read more: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141113/GZ01/141119629/1104

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It's about fucking time.

[Warpy]

1. At least he'll have the pain in the ass of defending himself

and the cost of maintaining a platoon of the greasiest lawyers in the business, trying to get off on technicalities.

One percenters just never seem to go to prison, do they?

[rurallib]

2. about fucking time

all I got to say.

[hobbit709]

3. ditto on that "It's about fucking time."

[irisblue]

26. ^^^this times 10000000000^^^

[on point]

4. Where are the murder charges?

[drm604]

5. Good. Maybe this will be an example to others.

[thatgemguy]

6. Best news I've heard all day! n/t

[theHandpuppet]

7. All I've got to say is....

[cascadiance]

8. Will the "corporate person" Massey Energy also receive the death penalty for murder?

Should happen to get rid of another bad element of our society!

[Ykcutnek]

11. Alpha owns Massey now. nt

[cascadiance]

15. Maybe Alpha should get tried for housing, aiding and abetting a corporate person fugitive!

[Ykcutnek]

16. What a celebration I would have.

They're also responsible for the constant decay of Appalachia.

[arcane1]

9. Those darned job-killing regulations!

But seriously, this is good news even though I am cynical about whether he'll actually be punished.

[cheapdate]

10. Hell Yes!

[cosmicone]

12. What a travesty!

He should be honored for creating 29 new jobs!

[NCjack]

13. Adm. Bobbie Inman (USN-retired) should also be indicted. nt

[Initech]

14. One day all the corporate criminals and fraudsters will get caught.

[VanillaRhapsody]

17. I used to work in Used Heavy Equipment (big mining type) sales....my boss knew him.....he told me

Blankenship was the sleaziest guy he ever met.

[starroute]

18. He never did get caught on the corruption and election-rigging

It's nice to see they may finally make something stick.

[bobthedrummer]

22. +1 starroute n/t

[starroute]

24. This

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-millhiser/supreme-courts-judge-for_b_171498.html

When a jury ordered Don Blankenship's company to pay $50 million to one of its competitors, Blankenship had a plan; rather than pay the money, Blankenship decided to buy a judge. An unknown lawyer named Brent Benjamin was in the midst of a quisical election campaign against incumbent West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw. With no name-recognition, and only $25,000 in the bank, Benjamin's campaign was going nowhere.

That is, of course, until Don Blankenship showed up.

Seeing an opportunity to shape the judges who would decide his appeal, Blankenship spent $3 million dollars in contributions, independent ads and other expenditures intended to place Brent Benjamin on the bench. One ad, funded entirely by a front-organization created by Blankenship, accused incumbent Justice McGraw of voting to free an free an incarcerated child rapist, and of allowing that rapist to work in a public school. Armed with Blankeship's millions, Brent Benjamin became Justice Benjamin, and he soon cast the deciding vote in a case overturning the verdict against Blankenship's company. Blankenship paid $3 million to buy a judge, and saved $50 million for his company---a 1667% return on his investment.

[starroute]

25. Also this

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/15court.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=Massey+Energy&st=nyt&oref=slogin

A justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court and a powerful coal-company executive met in Monte Carlo in the summer of 2006, sharing several meals even as the executive’s companies were appealing a $50 million jury verdict against them to the court.
Enlarge This Image

The photos are included in a motion asking the judge to step aside in the appeal of a $50 million award against Massey.

A little more than a year later, the justice, Elliott E. Maynard, voted with the majority in a 3-to-2 decision in favor of the coal companies.

Justice Maynard, who is now West Virginia’s chief justice, and Don L. Blankenship, the chief executive of Massey Energy, were “vacationing together,” according to a motion seeking Justice Maynard’s disqualification, which was filed on Monday.

[AllyCat]

19. It's only been 4.5 years. Impatient much?

Do I need the sarcasm thingy?

[Marie Marie]

20. Oooh, I smell a slap on the wrist and small fine in his future.

We can be sure that his penalty will not fit the crime.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

31. Goodwin is a damned good U.S. attorney

put away half of Mingo County government for corruption last year in a huge story.

He's been taking his time to build a bulletproof case. This may go further than you think.

[Marie Marie]

38. Thanks for this Adenoid - I did not know.

I hope that you are right about this. Guess my default position is that only little people actually pay for their crimes.

[SunSeeker]

21. K & R

[Hoppy]

23. But...but...but...bu....b he's a job creator

He's not a "moocher, looter or taker."

[Shrike47]

27. I am so glad. It's men like this that create my perception of Republicans.

[Blue_Tires]

28. years overdue

epic kick

[YarnAddict]

29. This is a good thing

Just wish a conviction could bring back the 29 who are dead as a result of this guy's actions.

[eppur_se_muova]

30. "IAFT" seems to be the most appropriate response, so I'll add another. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

32. That took long enough

Well, I'm afraid I won't be on that jury. He's guilty as sin.

[valerief]

33. Bet he'll be found innocent on all charges. He can afford it. nt

[slumcamper]

34. Ruthless capitalist pig ...

As the years have passed and ground settled on the graves of those upon whose backs he made his personal fortune this bastard has slobbered his greedy jowls over far too many steaks and swilled the finest champagne afforded by his ill-gotten gains. Tho' my faith in justice is increasingly vacant, I can cling to the hope that the heavy hand of retribution spares no force and exacts the ultimate toll that this pompous parasite deserves.

[A Little Weird]

35. Excellent news!

I know he probably won't actually face any punishment, but I'm glad to at least see an indictment.

[love_katz]

36. R.I.P. to the 29 men who died...

wishing we had a noose smiley for the robber baron scum who killed them.



for the indictment.

[Kingofalldems]

37. Kick and Rec for Hannity's little pals.