BP’s Chief Executive Tony Hayward testified before a congressional hearing in Washington yesterday and faced furious attacks from politicians on both sides of the political spectrum.
“BP’s corporate complacency is astonishing,” declared Henry Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce (statement).
“We have learned that time and again BP officials had warning signs that this was – as one employee put it – ‘a nightmare well’. They made choices that set safety aside in exchange for cost cutting and time saving decisions,” said Bart Stupak, chairman of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations (statement).
Hayward’s low key performance did not go down too well either. He insisted he wasn’t involved in decisions regarding the drilling before the accident that caused the leak and answered some questions by insisting on waiting until the current investigations have been completed.
“It’s clear to me that you don’t want to answer our questions,” said Waxman (Reuters).
The Wall Street Journal noted that “Even by the standards of these proceedings, the fury directed at Mr. Hayward was unusual.” The British press had a similar view. “Sliced and diced on Capitol Hill: BP boss treated like Public Enemy No 1 by American politicians,” said the Daily Mail.
There was one Republican Rep who tried to stick up for Hayward. Joe Barton said he was “ashamed” that the White House was running what he said was a “shakedown” of BP. Barton later apologised for his comments, according to some reports because the Republican party threatened severe sanctions against him if he didn’t (Politico).
Other Deepwater Horizon News
“Members of the House transportation committee castigated the Coast Guard on Thursday for being insufficiently aggressive in tracking and inspecting foreign oil drill vessels such as the Deepwater Horizon, which exploded April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 crewmen and causing the worst spill in U.S. history.”
“President Dmitry Medvedev said the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could threaten the survival of BP PLC and prompt lasting changes in the global oil industry.”