By Justin Katz
Jun 10, 2021
Colonial Pipeline chief Joseph Blount faced a second round of questioning on Wednesday, this time from House lawmakers, including a series of inquiries about the financial ramifications of the $4.3 million ransom payment made to the criminal group Darkside in May.
During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, where Blount appeared alongside a FireEye executive, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) grilled the Colonial executive on whether his company held cybersecurity insurance and if the payment would be reimbursed.
Blount during testimony this week has repeatedly stated the decision to pay was his alone and defended it as the right one to make. Responding to Langevin, he said the company has submitted a claim to the insurance company but has not yet received a response.