Blankenship Trial Prep Continues

The trial for former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is a little over a month away, and questions will be answered about safety at the Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010. An explosion killed 29 men. The Gazette-Mail highlighted a memo circulated at the mine in 2005 where Blankenship told workers to ignore instructions “to do anything other than run coal.” He later issued a follow-up note saying safety was the first priority. Blankenship faces three felony charges that allege he conspired to violate mine safety standards and lied to securities regulators. The trial starts October 1.