Blankenship Trial Witness Testifies Under Immunity

A key government witness in the Don Blankenship trial says he was threatened with prosecution and testified under immunity. The witness, ex-Performance Coal President Christopher Blanchard, continued testifying Friday in the trial of his old boss, ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. He says Blankenship prioritized profits over safety before a deadly 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 men. Performance Coal was Massey’s subsidiary overseeing Upper Big Branch Mine. Blanchard said Friday he didn’t conspire with Blankenship to willfully violate safety standards and didn’t break any laws. Prosecutors played phone calls where Blankenship criticized how Blanchard held his phone, pushed him to squeeze out a few million more dollars, and didn’t mention safety.