Court should vacate Blankenship verdict: Judge

摘要

A US magistrate judge has recommended that the 2015 convic- tion of former coal executive Donald Blankenship be vacated because prosecutors failed to hand over some evidence during trial. A federal jury found Blankenship, the former chief execu- tive of Massey Energy, guilty of a misdemeanor charge of con- spiring to violate mine safety standards in December 2015 in connection with the April 2010 Upper Branch mine explosion, which killed 29 miners. Yesterday's recommendation by US Magistrate Judge Omar Aboulhosn hands an administrative victory to Blankenship who has fought the charges levied against him even after serving a year in prison. But the guidance does not vindicate the former coal executive.