Stupak: BP won't let House panel talk to employees who may have critical information

[Poboy]

BP won't let House panel talk to employees
wwltv.com
Posted on June 25, 2010 at 4:15 PM

The chairman of a House panel investigating the Gulf oil spill says BP won't let his committee talk to several employees who may have critical information about what led to the catastrophe.
Rep. Bart Stupak told The Associated Press on Friday that BP has cited its own ongoing investigation as its basis for denying access to the employees.
Stupak also says information gathered so far shows it could be difficult for the government to prosecute anyone for the spill because of the vagueness of environmental laws and the challenge of proving intent.
The Michigan Democrat says there are a half-dozen people his committee wants to question, but hasn't been able to. But he says he isn't ready to issue subpoenas yet.

BP did not immediately comment on his remarks.
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http://www.wwltv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/Stupak-BP-wont-let-House-panel-talk-to-employees-97187704.html

[ananda]

1. Well..

We know who holds the power in this country.

[babylonsister]

2. I think the panel gained subpoena power; I hope they did so for

a reason.

[depakid]

3. "won't let?"

:rofl:

That has to be the most pathetic excuse ever used by a Democrat for failing to exercise their power or hold corporations accountable.

Not that the Congress and the administration aren't already replete with every excuse under the sun.

[The Magistrate]

9. Indeed, Sir: 'Won't Let' Really Cannot Apply Here

[Poboy]

10. It truly is laughable -and infuriating!

He is ALREADY inferring that he may not prosecute?

Truly astonishing.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. If these employees have been named, they had better watch for assassins.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

5. this legal "vagueness" has been our bane for the past 10 years

it is INTENTIONAL to protect the craporations and other dirty bastards in our govt...

[islandmkl]

6. kind of like..."he pulled a gun, and cocked it, and pointed it me...

told me to give him all my money...but i'm a little vague as to his intentions"

[Angry Dragon]

7. What a spineless person

OOps ..... how was I to know that by having 97% of safety violations, killing people in the past, use bad parts, that 11 people would die and I would cause an Ecocide of the Gulf of Mexico?? It had to be someone else.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Not ready to issue subpoenasm huh?

So this is what, mutual ass covering dance?
" Oh, we want to investigate, but they won't let meeeeeeee".

[City Lights]

11. I guess we are now a nation of, by, and for BP.

Not only are the people irrelevant, the government appears to be as well.

Fuck it all.

[Poboy]

12. hard kick for weak sauce

[Swamp Rat]

13. Pass the cayenne

:grr:

[SoCalDem]

14. Why people are afraid to talk.

Individuals are free to talk to whomever they choose, BUT if they are prepared to spill their guts against their employers, they are risking their jobs, income and the security of their families. THIS is what keeps people quiet. Add to that, the fact the the "oil industry" is a very incestuous business, so unless a person is prepared to never work again in the field that they may have decades-worth of time in, they will keep still.
The greater good of humanity should be enough motivation, but it is not. Unless the person goes on to write a best selling book, and is prepared to self-finance the health care insurance for their families, they are afraid to come forward.

Paying them for their testimony (and subsidizing their family's future needs) is not the answer, since they would be portrayed as yet another disgruntled former employee with an axe to grind. Testifying without compensation leads to unemployment and possible litigation by the former employer.

The most likely scenario, is that BP "promised" key people that they would be "taken care" of as long as they kept their mouths shut.

[Poboy]

15. No I think you are confusing things.

What you say holds true of anyone who might 'chose' to speak out. What we have here is an ongoing criminally negligent coverup, and a mealy mouthed, seemingly unwilling "prosecutor"/investigator, who is at this moment reluctant to get to the bottom of things, even though this is his alleged primary role.

[hvn_nbr_2]

16. BP won't allow....??????

So, just who gave BP that power? Who's the f'ing government here and who is the f'ing toadie for the corporatocracy?