Convicted coal CEO challenges Manchin to debate after leaving prison

Disgraced former coal boss Don Blankenship challenged West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D), considered one of 2018’s most vulnerable incumbents, to a debate and reiterated his claims of innocence on Wednesday, the day his federal prison sentence formally ended. 

Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy, served a one-year prison sentence after his conviction on a federal conspiracy charge stemming from the Upper Big Branch mine disaster that killed 29 workers in 2010. 

On Wednesday, Blankenship said in a series of tweets that his political and regulatory critics had “lied” about his role in the incident and reiterated his claims that natural gas was the cause of the mine collapse, something disputed by official reports. 

“Ann Coulter free speech in news lately. She’s lucky — govt put me under $5M bond, gag order, and in prison said my speech ‘troubles the US,’ ” Blankenship, who has long said his legal troubles are politically motivated, tweeted. 

Ann Coulter free speech in news lately. She’s lucky – govt put me under $5M bond, gag order, and in prison said my speech “troubles the US”

— Don Blankenship (@DonBlankenship) May 10, 2017

It’s no surprise that the UBB truth “troubles” the govt. Government bureaucrats are always “troubled” when the truth exposes their lies.

— Don Blankenship (@DonBlankenship) May 10, 2017

He accused Manchin and the Mine Safety and Health Administration of lying about the cause of the crisis and said, “I challenge Sen. Manchin to debate [Upper Big Branch] truth. A U.S. Senator who says I have ‘blood on my hands’ should be man enough to face me in public.” 

Sen. Manchin, MSHA lied about deceased miners. Forced miners to reduce air and then said miners were at fault. Shameful!!!!

— Don Blankenship (@DonBlankenship) May 10, 2017

UBB truth is critical to improving miner safety. Hiding the truth puts miners at risk.

— Don Blankenship (@DonBlankenship) May 10, 2017

I challenge Sen. Manchin to debate UBB truth. A U.S. Senator who says I have “blood on my hands” should be man enough to face me in public.

— Don Blankenship (@DonBlankenship) May 10, 2017

Manchin, who is up for reelection next year in a state easily carried by President Trump, said in a statement that Blankenship has “to answer to the loved ones of the miners who died in his mine for the rest of his life.”

{mosads}

He added, “[Blankenship’s] refusal to accept responsibility for his criminal actions even now only exacerbates these grieving families’ pain … I hope that Mr. Blankenship chooses to do the right thing and disappear from the public eye.” 

A jury found Blankenship guilty of a misdemeanor conspiracy charge in December 2015, and a judge sentenced him to a year in prison the following April. 

A federal appeals court upheld the conviction in January, and his prison term formally ended on Wednesday.