Poll: Do You Think BP Executives should face Federal Criminal Prosecution and Federal Prison Time?

[WeDidIt]

Simple binary poll. Your choices are "Yes, BP Executives should face Federal Criminal Prosecution and Federal Prison Time" or "No, BP Executives should not face Federal Criminal Prosecution and Federal Prison Time".

My answer is "Yes, BP Executives should face Federal Criminal Prosecution and Federal Prison Time".

[jberryhill]

1. Statute Please?

Can you reference which section of 18 USC you have in mind?

[WeDidIt]

4. 18 USC Chapter 1 § 13 subsection (a)

Under that statute, charge them with murder as defined under Louisiana law.

[depakid]

6. The only possibility I can think off the top of my head might be 18 U.S.C. § 1001

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_false_statements

Bit of a stretch, though depending on what was said when and to whom, not necessarily precluded.

Now, the various people calling the shots down the line with regard to specific actions on this project- they might have more to worry about, though without some research, one wouldn't be able to cite which statutes or regs they might have violated or what the likelihood of prosecution might be.

[WeDidIt]

8. See post 4. They cna be charged at the federal level with murder as defined by Louisiana

and face the same penalties, which in Louisiana includes the death penalty.

[jberryhill]

12. Ummm... No

You don't charge some "at the federal level" for a state offense.

[WeDidIt]

13. Oh yes you can!

Read the statute:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000013----000-.html

Title 18. Part 1, Chapter 1

§ 13. Laws of States adopted for areas within Federal jurisdiction

(a) Whoever within or upon any of the places now existing or hereafter reserved or acquired as provided in section 7 of this title, or on, above, or below any portion of the territorial sea of the United States not within the jurisdiction of any State, Commonwealth, territory, possession, or district is guilty of any act or omission which, although not made punishable by any enactment of Congress, would be punishable if committed or omitted within the jurisdiction of the State, Territory, Possession, or District in which such place is situated, by the laws thereof in force at the time of such act or omission, shall be guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment.

[wackywaggin]

2. We should charge them

with crimes against humanity, and set up a special court system for prosecuting them, starting with the CEO's of all companies involved in the spill. Simply go to their homes and arrest them. I'm tired of all this "oh' let's be nice it really wasn't anyones fault and they have families too", nonsense. To start with this Suttles BP spokesman should be arrested right at the podium while he is speaking before a national audience for his half-truths and outright lies to us all.

Heretic Wack

[MadMaddie]

3. They lied to the government when they applied for the permit

they said they had backup plans if a disaster occurred, clearly they didn't.

[JuniperLea]

5. And they put their own employees at risk...

Knowing full well the danger. I say this moves beyond criminal negligence... those people were murdered.

[MadMaddie]

7. Yep

[Canuckistanian]

10. At least "reckless disregard for human life"

In other words, manslaughter.

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

9. and their corporate person hood too.

[WeDidIt]

11. I think that's doomed to the death penalty

in civil litigation.

At least, if we can get the Republicans to finally let the cap be lifted.

[Kalun D]

14. Crime and Punishment

BP is directly at fault. Just like their refinery fire for which they paid a US record fine. On this one they again chose profits over safety.

The well was weeks behind schedule, they rushed everyone on the job.

They knew the BOP was faulty, they didn't stop to fix it.

the final call was the BP official on-sight ordering removal of the drilling mud after 2 of 3 Halliburton caps were in place. He over-ruled the driller and the head Transocean official. The well blew when they removed the mud, right before the 3rd cap was to be placed.

The punishment should be for all high ranking BP officials. They should be made to swim every day in the oil/dispersant stew. They should be made to physically clean the oil from the beaches with shovels, every day for the rest of their lives. The oil clean-up should easily out-last them, it will be decades before it's all gone.