Virgil
11-11-2008, 03:05 PM
Knowing about the website is more important than the article. http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/
http://counterpunch.org/ccr11122008.html
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November 11, 2008
How the Justice Department Sold Out the American People
BP's Big Spill on the North Slope
By CORPORATE CRIME REPORTER
The Justice Department sold out the American people when it settled an oil spill case against BP Alaska as a misdemeanor.
"It was a sellout and the citizens of this country were cheated by the Department of Justice," said Scott West, the EPA agent in charge of the criminal investigation for the case.
West retired from his position with the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division in Seattle last week and is now telling his story to reporters and to Congress.
West was investigating a March 2006 BP oil spill in Alaska.
A ruptured pipeline spilled 200,000 gallons of crude oil onto the North Slope.
Over West's objections, the government entered into an October 24, 2007 plea agreement with BP that called for $20 million fine and a guilty plea to a misdemeanor.
West originally made contacts with North Slope workers in the summer of 2005 through industry whistleblower Charles Hamel.
West believes the facts of the March 2006 oil spill called for further investigation.
West and federal prosecutors wanted to investigate under a willful avoidance theory that would allow the government to pursue felony indictments.
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http://counterpunch.org/ccr11122008.html
========================
November 11, 2008
How the Justice Department Sold Out the American People
BP's Big Spill on the North Slope
By CORPORATE CRIME REPORTER
The Justice Department sold out the American people when it settled an oil spill case against BP Alaska as a misdemeanor.
"It was a sellout and the citizens of this country were cheated by the Department of Justice," said Scott West, the EPA agent in charge of the criminal investigation for the case.
West retired from his position with the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division in Seattle last week and is now telling his story to reporters and to Congress.
West was investigating a March 2006 BP oil spill in Alaska.
A ruptured pipeline spilled 200,000 gallons of crude oil onto the North Slope.
Over West's objections, the government entered into an October 24, 2007 plea agreement with BP that called for $20 million fine and a guilty plea to a misdemeanor.
West originally made contacts with North Slope workers in the summer of 2005 through industry whistleblower Charles Hamel.
West believes the facts of the March 2006 oil spill called for further investigation.
West and federal prosecutors wanted to investigate under a willful avoidance theory that would allow the government to pursue felony indictments.
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