Blankenship & Massey

In 2004, ex-coal baron Don Blankenship spent $3.5 million to elect West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin in a race that inspired a John Grisham novel. Benjamin won the election and ruled in Blankenship’s favor in a case that saved Massey a $50 million payout. In his first re-election, Benjamin says he wasn’t Blankenship’s buddy and the outside money didn’t influence him. He’s now condemning outside special interest money in the race.