Associated Press Published

Former Coal Baron Blankenship Sues Media, Claims Defamation

Don_Blankenship_Image.jpeg

Former coal baron Don Blankenship is suing several news outlets and media personalities, claiming he was defamed during his failed bid for a U.S. senate seat in West Virginia.

Blankenship’s suit was filed Thursday in Mingo County, West Virginia. It names The Associated Press among other large media companies.

Blankenship says news organizations waged a concerted plot to destroy him by erroneously labeling him as a convicted felon or saying he was imprisoned for manslaughter.

Blankenship is the former CEO of Massey Energy, which owned a mine where a 2010 explosion killed 29 workers. He spent a year in federal prison after being convicted of conspiring to break mine safety laws, a misdemeanor.

 
Blankenship is seeking $12 billion in damages.

Tags Related to This Article

Related News

Uncategorized Briana Heaney,

Big Branch 14th Anniversary: Former WVPB Reporter Recounts Covering The Blankenship Trial

The Upper Big Branch Mining Disaster, which caused the death of 29 miners, happened 14 years ago today. Briana Heaney sat down with Ashton Marra, who worked for WVPB and covered the consequential trial of Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy, the company that owned the mine. 

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Arts & Culture WVPB Staff,

Remembering Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster And Sarah Jarosz Has Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, which caused the deaths of 29 miners, happened 14 years ago. Ashton Marra worked for WVPB at the time and covered the trial of Don Blankenship, CEO of the company that owned the mine. Briana Heaney sat down with Marra to talk about what it was like being a reporter covering the trial.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News