CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A hearing scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Charleston will focus on whether the U.S. Attorney’s office in southern West Virginia should be allowed to prosecute the criminal cases against those involved with Freedom Industries, the company in charge of the tank farm where MCHM leaked into the Elk River Jan. 9, 2014 causing a water emergency.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston will hear the motion from attorneys representing former Freedom president Gary Southern who claim U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and his staff should be taken off the case because they and their families were directly impacted by spill and water emergency that impacted nearly 300,000 residents in parts of nine West Virginia counties.
Goodwin has previously said he would oppose the motion. Southern, and several other officials with the now bankrupted Freedom, have been named in a variety of charges including alleged violations of federal environmental laws.
Monday’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30.