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.