WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Tuesday from former coal executive Don Blankenship, who argued that major news outlets defamed him by calling him a “felon.”The justices left in place an appellate ruling against Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy.
He served a year in prison on a misdemeanor charge after he was found guilty of conspiring to violate safety standards at a West Virginia mine before an explosion in 2010 that killed 29 men.
Justice Clarence Thomas, while agreeing with the court's action Tuesday, repeated his call for the court to overturn its landmark 1964 libel ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan.
The high court had previously turned away Blankenship's appeal of his conviction.
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Persons:
Don Blankenship, ”, Blankenship, Clarence Thomas, Sullivan
Organizations:
WASHINGTON, Massey Energy, New York Times, U.S, Circuit, CNN, Fox News, Senate
Locations:
West Virginia, New