U.S. Attorney Recused from Blankenship Conviction Case

U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart has been recused from representing the federal government in a case involving former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s criminal mine safety conviction.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail cites court records that say the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern West Virginia has been recused based upon the appearance or existence of conflicts of interest. Stuart declined to explain the recusal’s reason to the newspaper.

Blankenship, who lost a bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, was convicted in 2015 of conspiracy to violate federal mine safety and health standards. He spent a year in prison. He says the conviction should be thrown out as documents weren’t shared that could have helped his case.

U.S. Attorney for Eastern Kentucky, Robert M. Duncan Jr., will now handle the case.