After a decade+ of nonstop pollution offenses, GOP Sen. Jim Justice's coal empire learned earlier this year that it was under federal criminal investigation.
But before prosecutors could gather crucial evidence, Todd Blanche's office told them "pencils down."
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
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NEW: Trump administration officials earlier this year killed a federal criminal investigation into the coal empire owned by Sen. Jim Justice, the Republican former governor of West Virginia and a close ally of the president’s.
By @justinelliott.bsky.social @josh-kaplan.bsky.social
Must-read new story from @propublica.org
mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/06/08/t...
For decades, a small EPA program assessed toxic chemicals. In an internal memo obtained by ProPublica, a top Trump appointee sharply criticized the program’s work and directed agency offices to review...
NEW: The man who helped build Trump’s Supreme Court has spent a quarter million dollars to sway West Virginia courts
Leonard Leo’s power and influence stretch back decades. And he’s using it to get Judge Dan Greear elected to a full 10-year term on the WV Intermediate Court of Appeals.
"Pencils down." Trump Administration Killed Criminal Investigation of GOP @JimJustice_WV’s Coal Companies, by @mtredden.bsky.social and Avi Asher-Schapiro w/ @mtnstspotlight.bsky.social
Ken Ward Jr.
Molly Redden
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EPA and Justice Department officials were looking into potential criminal violations by the vast coal empire owned by Sen. Jim Justice. Then the Office of the Deputy Attorney General told them “pencils down.”
EPA and Justice Department officials were looking into potential criminal violations by the vast coal empire owned by Sen. Jim Justice. Then the Office of the Deputy Attorney General told them “pencil...
mountainstatespotlight.org
mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/05/09/p...
mountainstatespotlight.org
ProPublica
mountainstatespotlight.org
Ken Ward Jr.
Mountain State Spotlight
EPA and Justice Department officials were looking into potential criminal violations by the vast coal empire owned by Sen. Jim Justice. Then the Office of the Deputy Attorney General told them “pencil...
