Friday, January 14, 2011
UBB Public Hearings Postponed
WEST VIRGINIA....
The Obama administration on Friday backed off its promised public hearings to release witness statements taken as part of its closed-door inquiry into the April 5th explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine. Labor Solicitor Patricia Smith attributed the decision to a request from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, who says he fears public discussion about the disaster "could hinder" his ongoing Department of Justice criminal investigation. Smith says Labor Department officials remain committed to holding public hearings once they are assured by the criminal prosecutors that doing so will not impede their ability to bring any wrongdoers to justice.
The Obama administration on Friday backed off its promised public hearings to release witness statements taken as part of its closed-door inquiry into the April 5th explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine. Labor Solicitor Patricia Smith attributed the decision to a request from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, who says he fears public discussion about the disaster "could hinder" his ongoing Department of Justice criminal investigation. Smith says Labor Department officials remain committed to holding public hearings once they are assured by the criminal prosecutors that doing so will not impede their ability to bring any wrongdoers to justice.# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:22 PM 
