West Virginia voter who says he lost three cousins in mine disaster tied to Don Blankenship tells @TomLlamasABC he’s voting for the coal baron anyway. “I want an honest crook, and that’s Blankenship.” https://t.co/6CmPQXqK2u pic.twitter.com/jeWQUUZ5hI — ABC News (@ABC) May 8, 2018

A West Virginia man who lost three cousins in a devastating coal mining explosion that left 29 dead told ABC News on Tuesday night that he would be voting for Don Blankenship in Tuesday’s senate race.

Here’s the thing: Blankenship ran the mining company found responsible for the disaster that killed more than two dozen people, and spent a year in prison for conspiracy to violate mine safety laws.

After his release from prison, Blankenship, who doesn’t even live in West Virginia (he prefers Las Vegas) decided to run for senate as a Republican. The Republican primary is Tuesday night, and the winner will go on to face incumbent Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin. Recent polls indicated a tight-race, with Blankenship just ahead of his two opponents.

But one unlikely voter that ABC News’ Tom Llamas spoke with is throwing in for Blankenship.

“Three of your cousins died in that mine disaster, and you’re going to vote for Blankenship?” Llamas asked the man, whose name was not given.

“Exactly,” he replied.

“I want an honest crook, and that’s Blankenship,” he added.

Watch above, via ABC News.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Aidan McLaughlin (@aidnmclaughlin) on Twitter

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