Numerous federal politicians have accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from individual and PACs associated with Massey Energy, which operates the Upper Big Branch mine where an explosion tragically killed 29 miners earlier last week, as Capital Eye previous reported.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama condemned the management of Massey Energy, charging that the owners “put their bottom line before the safety of their workers.”

The company has a history of safety violations and run-ins with federal regulators, but claims it has made major improvements. The company accused its critics of “rushing to judgment for political gain or to avoid blame” in a statement issued yesterday.

With Massey employees contributing nearly $37,000 to federal politicians and committees so far this cycle, might any of the beneficiaries of this cash share Obama’s harsh view of the company?

The bulk of this sum comes from $30,400 contribution to the National Republican Senatorial Committee last year from Massey CEO Don Blankenship.

The NRSC has no plans to part ways with it.

“At this point in time the NRSC has no intention of returning the money. There is no reason to. I’m not aware that President Obama is returning the million dollars he took from Goldman Sachs and its employees,” said Brian Walsh, the NRSC’s communications director, referring to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s fraud charges against the investment bank.

A decade ago, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) received a $1,000 contribution from Massey’s PAC. More recently, she received a $250 contribution from an engineer at the mine — money she also intends to keep.

“The contribution the congresswoman received was from an employee of Massey Energy on behalf of himself, not his employer,” Capito press secretary Ashlee Strong said. “We don’t see a conflict of interest taking money from a constituent of West Virginia on behalf of himself.”

Four politicians — all Republicans — have received money from Massey this campaign cycle. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) received $2,400 from Dwayne Francisco, a Massey executive. Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey received $2,000 from CEO Blankenship. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Ohio Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman also each received $1,000 from Blankenship.

The offices of Shimkus, Toomey, Rogers and Portman did not respond to requests for comment.



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