Blankenship to reporter: 'You're liable to get shot'

Massey wins W. Va. Supreme Court case; not doing so well in public relations

Posted by David Roberts at 11:17 PM on 05 Apr 2008

A while back, a case against mountaintop-removal giant Massey Energy reached the West Virginia Supreme Court, which overturned a previous judgment fining the company. But then pictures turned up of Massey CEO Don Blankenship canoodling around the French Riviera with one of the court judges and two female "companions." Oops. The court decided to re-hear the case, minus the offending judge.

Then another judge, who had said that "the pernicious effects of Mr. Blankenship's bestowal of his personal wealth, political tactics, and 'friendship' have created a cancer in the affairs of this court" -- got bullied off the case by Massey allies. Two down.

That second judge, on his way out, argued that yet a third judge should also recuse himself, since Blankenship had spent $3.5 million supporting his reelection. But that third judge, Brent Benjamin, refused to go.

Which brings us to the present. Yesterday, the court again overturned the $76 million judgment against Massey, by a 3-2 vote. And yes, the aforementioned Benjamin (as in 3.5 million benjamins) was the tie-breaking vote. Now the case will likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In other Massey news, Blankenship assaulted an ABC News reporter in a parking lot after saying, and I'm not making this up, "If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot."

He has denied making threats, and said the cameraman and reporter did not identify themselves when they approached him. The tape, however, has them identifying themselves twice on their approach, and him threatening to shoot them.

The footage will appear in a report on Massey that will air Monday night on ABC News' "World News With Charles Gibson" and "Nightline." Don't miss it.

(For those not yet aware, Blankenship is a thoroughly unpleasant individual.)

For story: Blankenship to reporter: 'You're liable to get shot'
8 Comments | Post a Comment

"3.5 million benjamins"

Actually, that should be "3.5 million georges," or "35 thousand benjamins."

But the point is taken: Blankenship is a "thoroughly unpleasant individual," the West Virginia Supreme Court is majorly messed up, and Charles Gibson and his pals at ABC News deserve praise.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 1:58 AM on 06 Apr 2008

Creepy

History is filled with this stereotype.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 7:15 AM on 06 Apr 2008

An example of big money and............

..........political power corrupting absolutely?

Steven Earl Salmony
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population,
established 2001
http://sustainabilitysoutheast.org/

by stevenearlsalmony at 8:59 AM on 06 Apr 2008

How widespread

How many federal judges are there of the caliber of these coal friendly ones? Maybe investigation of this phenomenon might cause some signifigant progress.

It ought to be easy to find the corrupt judges since the judgements in these cases are public. Corrupt judges knowing that they are under scrutiny might even halt a lot of this activity.

Focus on the judges and their vacations and extracurricular activities. Where do they drink, drug, and have sex and on whose dime? I bet most don't go all the way to the Riviera.

A history of CEOs like this violent lil feller might help too. He has to have a lot of skeletons, probably actual ones buried under the MTR sites?

Bloggers can do that, expose the whole mess, mass media is too afraid of law suits and losing sponsors. Modern technology and the destruction of our constitution have removed and right to privacy of we the people. So turn it around on the corpoRATS. Expose their every move.

Youtube videos ought to feature the carousing and crimes, seeing is believing. I bet progressive bloggers would get drudge-like net ratings with CEO/judge/politician tabloidism.

That's real non-violent action!

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 9:44 AM on 06 Apr 2008

Culture Shock

It is just an inoculate phrase down here in these hills to point out to someone they are liable to get shot not a direct threat. It is a right to carry state and most of these rednecks pack heat legally. They passed a bill much like the one in Texas called the stand your ground law. In kentucky there are several situations where you can get youselves shot and the law will not pursue the matter.

Knowing the area like I do, I will tell you I have seen seen things here you all have alluded to. It's a long walk out of these hollows and you might just get lost sometimes. What you find stuffed back in coal auger holes and buried under MTR's would surprise you.

If you ever get into doing any serious onsite environmnental work down here you have to be carefull. I have a concealed to carry permit and can tell you straight up, when someone tells you, you are liable to get shot down here, take it to the bank.

I fight MTR down here and am always aware of my surroundings. Old Don, would not have shot the reporters, that is proposterous.

He's got people..

The law, its a joke, I have seen an FBI agent kill a woman in this county and stuff her down a well. The prosecuting attorney had a behind closed door trial and he got a sweetheart deal. Check it out. Seems he knocked her up and to keep the little woman at home from finding out about it, he took care of the situation.

I have not known anyone in Pike County, that is where Belfry is located and my birthplace, to get any serious time for killing someone.

The man was right absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.

by Pompey Road at 9:55 AM on 07 Apr 2008

This should be good...

...I'm gonna love to see the reactions that will be result of him bein' shown on national television.

Though I don't like to see others be embarrased in front of an audience, in this case he deserved it.

I'll be sure to watch it tonight!

by Tasermons Partner at 10:49 AM on 07 Apr 2008

Dang, missed it....

...I wasn't feelin' well and lied down for a nap, does anyone have a link to a news stream or a youtube clip?

by Tasermons Partner at 11:16 PM on 07 Apr 2008

An ideal form of government . . .

What was it Voltaire said about democracy being an ideal form of government?

by LGT at 5:48 AM on 08 Apr 2008

ADVERTISING POLICY

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