Joe Manchin Accuses Controversial Former CEO Of Having 'Blood On His Hands'

Dem Accuses Controversial Former CEO Of Having 'Blood On His Hands'

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) accused former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship of having "blood on his hands" related to the 2010's Upper Big Branch mine disaster.

“I believe this permeated from the top down –- from Don Blankenship down,” Manchin told ABC News days after Blankenship released a film he said tells "what really happened" at Upper Big Branch. “I believe that Don has blood on his hands. And I believe that justice will be done.”

On April 5, 2010, an explosion at the Massey-owned Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va. left 29 miners dead. The Mine Safety and Health Administration report determined the cause of the explosion was the ignition of methane gas.

Blankenship is disputing that theory in a film he released Monday called "Upper Big Branch - Never Again." The film's release came five days before the four-year anniversary of the disaster.

Manchin is featured in the film, but claims he was "lied to" about the the intent of the film and was not told it was being funded by Blankenship.

In an interview with HuffPost Live on Thursday, Blankenship responded to Manchin's criticism, saying he never told the producers of the film who to interview.

"I still don't know what the facts are about that," Blankenship said. "I hired [Adroit Films] and they did the job. It looked to me like they did a great job on the documentary but what went on in those discussions, I have no idea."

See Blankenship on HuffPost Live above.

Before You Go

Unveiling Of The Official Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial

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