A hearing scheduled for Monday in U.S.
District Court in Charleston will focus on
whether the U.S. Attorney’s office in southern West
Virginia should be allowed to prosecute the criminal cases against
those involved with Freedom Industries, the company in charge of the tank farm
where MCHM leaked into the Elk River Jan. 9,
2014 causing a water emergency.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston
will hear the motion from attorneys representing former Freedom president Gary
Southern who claim U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and his staff should be taken
off the case because they and their families were directly impacted by spill
and water emergency that impacted nearly 300,000 residents in parts of nine West Virginia
Goodwin has previously said he would
oppose the motion. Southern, and several other officials with the now
bankrupted Freedom, have been named in a variety of charges including alleged
violations of federal environmental laws.
Monday’s hearing is scheduled to begin
at 1:30.
