Friday, October 29, 2010
Massey Officials Invoke Fifth Amendment Rights
WEST VIRGINIA....
According to documents obtained under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Elizabeth Chamberlin, Massey Energy's vice president for safety, and five other officials have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and will not appear for interviews with state and federal investigators who are trying to determine the cause of the April 5th explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Attorneys for the Massey officials formalized their plans in letters submitted between October 6th and October 20th to the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training. A deal between Massey officials and the Manchin administration allowed company employees to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights by letter, instead of being compelled by subpoena to appear for interviews and do so in person. Lawyers for the six officials said in letters to the state that their clients have done nothing wrong, but do not believe the investigation interviews are being conducted properly.
According to documents obtained under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Elizabeth Chamberlin, Massey Energy's vice president for safety, and five other officials have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and will not appear for interviews with state and federal investigators who are trying to determine the cause of the April 5th explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Attorneys for the Massey officials formalized their plans in letters submitted between October 6th and October 20th to the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training. A deal between Massey officials and the Manchin administration allowed company employees to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights by letter, instead of being compelled by subpoena to appear for interviews and do so in person. Lawyers for the six officials said in letters to the state that their clients have done nothing wrong, but do not believe the investigation interviews are being conducted properly.