DoJ's Civil Litigation of West Virginia Mining Companies

Donna Brazile: DOJ filed a civil lawsuit against mining companies under the control of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's family. She says his son, James C. Justice III, was named as a defendant in his individual capacity and may face possible garnishment of state salary to repay loans for coal equipment. The case alleges that the 13 Justice family owned companies failed to pay $7.6 million in civil penalties for hundreds of federal mine and safety violations, she says. Even without a firm deadline, prosecutors get the point; don't use DOJ to influence elections, writes Brazile.