Execs argue prosecutors are conflicted

Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va.

Attorneys for two former executives charged in a chemical spill said in court Wednesday that prosecutors should be taken off the case because they were affected by the spill.

In U.S. District Court in Charleston, attorneys for ex-Freedom Industries officials Gary Southern and Dennis Farrell contended that prosecutors were conflicted enough to warrant their recusal.

Prosecutors countered that defendants had the law and their facts wrong.

In January 2014, a Freedom tank leak spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days.

Defense attorneys specifically focused on U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s wife, Amy Shuler Goodwin.

They said she had a large stake in the spill as the current state tourism commissioner and former spokeswoman for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin during the spill.