Rick Perry hugged a coal baron. This photographer got the picture. Then he was placed on leave.
So much going on, I missed this yesterday.
Rick Perry hugged a coal baron. This photographer got the picture. Then he was placed on leave.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/rick-perry-hugged-a-coal-baron-this-photographer-got-the-picture-then-he-lost-his-job/2018/01/17/ac52a2a8-fbd0-11e7-ad8c-ecbb62019393_story.html?utm_term=.2f0e9a3ac9b4
By Steven Mufson January 17 at 8:06 PM
Energy Department photographer Simon Edelman is seeking whistleblower protection after the department placed him on administrative leave and seized personal belongings he kept at the office.
In a Jan 4. complaint, Edelman, the department’s chief creative officer, said that he had given official photos to The Washington Post and In These Times magazine of a March 29 meeting between coal mining executive Robert Murray and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The photos show the two men hugging and discussing an “action plan” for overhauling federal energy regulations.
Edelman said in the complaint filed with the department’s inspector general that he felt there was something improper about the close similarity between Perry’s proposed changes to electricity regulations to prop up coal and nuclear plants in September and the plan Murray presented months earlier, and decided to make the photos available to both publications.
In These Times published its article on Dec. 6 without disclosing the source of the photos.
Yet on Dec. 7, after Edelman arrived for work, he was summoned to his supervisor’s office and told to sign a form putting him on administrative leave with pay. Bob House, director of public affairs and Edelman’s boss, wouldn’t say why. Edelman refused to sign without a lawyer. Then he was escorted out of the building without being able to collect his belongings.
The Post published its own story online on Dec. 8.
The Energy Department instructed Edelman to call in every day to Bill Turenne, director of strategic communications and messaging. On Dec. 8, Turenne told Edelman to either destroy photos contained in a Google document or transfer rights to the Energy Department, which had instructed employees to use their personal Google accounts, according to Edelman.
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Robert Murray and Rick Perry embrace during a March 29, 2017, meeting over Murray's action plan for saving coal companies. (Obtained by The Washington Post)
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jillynyc @jillynyc
3h3 hours ago
Replying to @CREWcrew
Jesus, these people can’t hide their guilt.
0 replies 0 retweets 7 likes
Tracy Mears ? @tmb1229
2h2 hours ago
Replying to @CREWcrew @RobbieRae61
My god! What is going on? Up is down, Black is white? I honestly can’t take anymore pandering to corporate PIGS at the expense of our environment and American citizens in this country. Anyone who would vote for these robber barons is uninformed or brainwashed by Trumpism
0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
Matt Gatewood ⚛️
? @MattRGate
3h3 hours ago
Replying to @CREWcrew
I hadn't seen this picture..... Until now. Funny how taking steps to silence any whiff of dissent can backfire. ¯_(ツ
_/¯
0 replies 1 retweet 4 likes
Don Galya
? @donpgalya
2h2 hours ago
Replying to @CREWcrew
We can only imagine how much hugging of coal executives is going on in secret at the White House.
