Guilty

moe

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May 29, 2001
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WV Public News
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BREAKING: Don #Blankenship found guilty on conspiracy to violate mine safety regulations. Not guilty on counts 2 & 3 (securities charges).


Gazette-Mail
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#Blankenship guilty of conspiring to violate mine safety standards, not guilty of securities fraud, not guilty of making false statements
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about a minute ago
12:19 - 3 Dec 2015
 
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mule_eer

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May 6, 2002
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I read The Price of Justice a few years ago - good read if you are so inclined and have the time - and that forms the basis of my opinion of Mr. Blankenship. That probably produced at least a little bias in my mind since the author was an attorney for Caperton in his suit against Blankenship. I've heard other stories about Blankenship that did not paint him in the best of lights. From what I've heard, seen, and read - mostly read - I think justice was done in this case.
 

dave

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May 29, 2001
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A waste of money for a lowly misdemeanor.
Tax dollars well spent. The guy will get up to a year at Green Bag Rd and probably still be guilty of being a magnificent ******* for the rest of his life.
 

WVUCOOPER

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Dec 10, 2002
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Tax dollars well spent. The guy will get up to a year at Green Bag Rd and probably still be guilty of being a magnificent ******* for the rest of his life.
You think he'll serve time? I don't see it. If he does, then it was totes worth it.
 

mneilmont

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I'll bet that UBB families would disagree and I assume that he'll answer for it in civil court.
He is retiring to the Rivera and removing all assets from the politicians control. Not much left, but he will be able to survive the rest of his life.
 

mneilmont

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I'll bet that UBB families would disagree and I assume that he'll answer for it in civil court.
I will call that bet if you will double it on a bet that he will survive handsomely. Ever person associated with UMWA will lose sleep tonight - then more sleep on each appeal.
 

WVUCOOPER

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He can probably afford a couple appeals and get a few delays. He will probably die owing for the time unserved.
I'm not even talking about his pockets keeping him out of jail, I just wonder how many misdemeanors actually serve time in the federal system?
 

moe

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I'm not even talking about his pockets keeping him out of jail, I just wonder how many misdemeanors actually serve time in the federal system?
Probably not many but this is a unique case imo. It will be interesting to hear about the sentencing.
 

mneilmont

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I'm not even talking about his pockets keeping him out of jail, I just wonder how many misdemeanors actually serve time in the federal system?
If he is ever incarcerated, anything short of Marion, Ill., will not be satisfactory to the liberals.
 

WhiteTailEER

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If he is ever incarcerated, anything short of Marion, Ill., will not be satisfactory to the liberals.

What does liberal or conservative have to do with it? He has been found guilty of conspiracy to violate safety regulations which lead to the death of 29 miners. I would hope conservatives and liberals alike would be interested in seeing justice served.
 

Airport

Well-known member
Dec 12, 2001
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I read The Price of Justice a few years ago - good read if you are so inclined and have the time - and that forms the basis of my opinion of Mr. Blankenship. That probably produced at least a little bias in my mind since the author was an attorney for Caperton in his suit against Blankenship. I've heard other stories about Blankenship that did not paint him in the best of lights. From what I've heard, seen, and read - mostly read - I think justice was done in this case.
I assume that was Hugh caperton and I went to high school with Hugh.
 

mule_eer

Member
May 6, 2002
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I assume that was Hugh caperton and I went to high school with Hugh.
That was Hugh, but I couldn't remember his first name off the top of my head. This is one for the small world file.

With respect to the case, it made it up to the WV Supreme Court. Blankenship heavily funded one of the candidates on the court, and that justice refuses to recuse himself. They took that to the USSC, and that got them another shot in the state SC. They ended up losing that appeal as well - can't remember the circumstances behind that. I guess they were going to try it in VA courts since it was a mine in VA that Hugh owned. They did win in the initial trial and in the appeal court in WV, if I remember the chain of events correctly.
 

dave

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May 29, 2001
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I disagree. It sets a precedent. This may have farther reaching effects than simply what happens with Blankenship

Not really. Most companies are pretty serious about safety programs. At least the larger operators.
 

dave

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There are 29 families that certainly disagree with you....and many other miners that disagree as well.

Nobody will say it but nobody dies that day if the guys running the machine didnt bypass the sniffers at the cut. Blankenship can be the biggest ******* on earth but those guys made a conscious decision to break msha laws.
 
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Nobody will say it but nobody dies that day if the guys running the machine didnt bypass the sniffers at the cut. Blankenship can be the biggest ******* on earth but those guys made a conscious decision to break msha laws.

You're a real PIECE OF ****! Blaming the dead miners? You do understand how it works? (I doubt it). The miners are concerned for their safety and don't want to do something hazardous. The are directed by Don (DADS = do as Don says), either do it or be fired. They have to support their family and don't have much choice in employment, what do you think the are going to choose.
 
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dave

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May 29, 2001
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You're a real PIECE OF ****! Blaming the dead miners? You do understand how it works? (I doubt it). The miners are concerned for their safety and don't want to do something hazardous. The are directed by Don (DADS = do as Don says), either do it or be fired. They have to support their family and don't have much choice in employment, what do you think the are going to choose.
Pussified emotional responses aside, I do understand how it works and what I said was true. I would guess I know more about how it actually works than you do. It doesn't absolve anyone of anything because the poor safety conditions contributed to most of the deaths but the flash was caused by an explosion at the face.