Don Blankenship News

Defense Rests in West Virginia Mine Blast Trial, Blankenship Stays Mum

Former Massey Energy Chief Donald Blankenship won’t take the witness stand to explain what happened when a company mine exploded in 2010 killing 29 workers, choosing instead to leave his fate in the hands of jurors at his criminal trial …

Trial Set to Start for Former Energy CEO in Deadly West Virginia Mine Blast

Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship hits the courtroom for a criminal trial Thursday, facing charges that he conspired to break safety laws and lied to financial regulators about safety practices at the site of the deadliest U.S. mine explosion …

West Virginia Prosecutors Say Explosion Evidence Crucial to Blankenship Case

Prosecutors say in court documents that evidence about the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster is a necessary part of the government’s criminal case against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports prosecutors made the filing in a …

Ex-Massey CEO’s Lawyers: Keep West Virginia Mine Blast Out of Criminal Trial

Attorneys for former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship want evidence about the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia kept out of his criminal trial this fall. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the attorneys filed a motion …

Judge Delays Ex-Massey CEO’s Trial, Keeps Case in West Virginia

A federal judge has agreed to delay the criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. U.S. District Judge Irene Berger on Friday delayed the trial from July 13 to Oct. 1, The Charleston Gazette reports. Berger also ordered …

Lawyers on Both Sides of Blankenship Criminal Case Request Trial Delay

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are asking for an October trial in the criminal case against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. Blankenship is charged with conspiring to violate safety standards at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia where …

U.S. Judge Denies Motion to Drop Mine Blast Charges Against Ex-Massey CEO

A federal judge has denied nine motions to dismiss charges against former Massey Energy Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship related to a 2010 mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 29 people. Blankenship faces three felony counts for allegedly ignoring …

Massey Ex-CEO Blankenship’s Criminal Trial Moved to July

Former Massey Energy Co. Chief Executive Officer Donald Blankenship was given a three-month reprieve to prepare for a criminal trial over an April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners. The blast at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West …

Former Massey CEO Requests Dismissal of Charges from West Virginia Mine Explosion

A former coal company executive is seeking the dismissal of charges stemming from a 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 workers in West Virginia. Don Blankenship, former chief executive officer of Massey Energy, also has asked the court to disqualify …

Blankenship Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Linked to Massey Mine Explosion

Former Massey Energy chief Donald Blankenship pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the West Virginia mine explosion that killed 29 workers in the worst U.S. coal industry disaster in almost 40 years. The former executive, 64, once a powerful …