2008. he was photographed on the french riviera with a judge who had influence over his business dealings. he s a larger than life character in appalachia, a throw-back to coal barons of the 19th century. reporter: he s accused of putting profit before safety. they cite a memo to mine superintendents in which blankenship told them to ignore orders to do anything but run coal. we seem not to understand that coal pays the bills. blankenship said the memo was taken out of context. in 2006 two miners died at a fire at the massey mine. the company was hit with the largest financial settlement in the history of the coal industry for willfully violating safety standards. tamron. lisa, there are two more resignations in the aftermath of that spending scandal that involved a trip to a
october 2005 memo to mine superintendents in which blankenship told them to ignore orders to do anything but run coal. we seem not to understand that coal pays the bills. blankenship said the memo was taken out of context. in 2006, two miners died in a fire at a massey mine. the company was hit with the largest financial settlement in the history of the coal industry for willingfully violating safety standards. lisa myers reporting there. wooers just getting a new press poll video. this is the chief operating officer of massey energy. he s been taken to mike snelling, the vp of surface ops at the mine. let s listen. we have one drill currently in operation. that s drilled down about 560 feet. right next to that we have another drill hole that s already been drilled and in place. it s about 1,100 feet deep. the diameter of the hole is six inches.