Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Judge denies W.Va. ex-coal baron travel home for holidays


A judge won't let a West Virginia ex-coal baron facing criminal charges head home for the holidays.

A docket entry on Monday shows U.S. District Judge Irene Berger in Beckley denied ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship's motion to travel home for the holidays.

During his case, Blankenship's travel is restricted to southern West Virginia, Pike County, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. Other travel needs judicial approval.

Blankenship now has a home in Nevada, but it's unclear if that's where he wanted to travel.

The case's court filings are unavailable to the public under a gag order, which The Associated Press and other media are challenging.

Blankenship is charged with conspiring to violate safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. A 2010 explosion there killed 29 men.