The Department of Justice (DOJ) will not prosecute an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee who had a hand in last year’s massive spill of toxic mine waste that contaminated Colorado’s Animas River.
A year-long investigation by the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the unnamed employee may have broken federal water pollution law and may have made false statements to law enforcement officials regarding the Gold King Mine spill.But after the OIG referred its findings for potential prosecution, the United States Attorney for Colorado, headed by acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, declined last week to pursue the charges, OIG spokesman Jeffrey Lagda said Wednesday.The decision by the Troyer’s office means that no one will be prosecuted as a result of the OIG’s investigation into the incident.
However, that’s not to say that the unnamed employee won’t be the recipient of dread punishment.
The EPA’s Office of Inspector General disclosed that it had found evidence the unnamed employee may have violated the Clean Water Act and given false statements.However, office spokesman Jeffrey Lagda says federal prosecutors declined to pursue the case. He says that in lieu of prosecution, the case will be sent to senior EPA management for review.
At least the employee is getting a “senior management review”. Hillary Clinton didn’t even get that for her handling of the nation’s secrets and the associated false statements about her activities.
The Republicans in the House of Representatives have responded as you would expect…with more kabuki legislative theater.
House Republicans on Wednesday bristled and demanded a briefing before Oct. 26 by the Justice Department explaining the decision not to prosecute.“By not taking up the case, the Department of Justice looks like it is going easy on its colleagues in EPA,” said a letter from members of the House Committee on Natural Resources.Justice officials’ actions “give the appearance of hypocrisy, and seem to indicate that there is one set of rules for private citizens and another for the federal government,” the letter said. “The EPA disaster deserves the same level of accountability to which private citizens are held.”
There is some good news for Colorado residents and those who enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Recent studies indicate that fish populations for the Animas River impacted by the spill are higher than expected.
“It’s been a really nice fish year,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologist Jim White. “It’s definitely been more abundant than years past.”…Although White said this year’s count didn’t indicate a turning point for fish in the Animas, he did say certain population trends are encouraging.“The good news is we captured twice as many fish of quality size – 14 inches or better – compared to last year, so that’s really good,” he said.
In conclusion, it looks like one more politically-connected American is enjoying some Hillary Clinton-style justice!
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY