Staff Reports
The Biden DOJ has once again shown its true colors by going after politically conservative coal companies owned by James C. Justice III. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil action against Justice and his 13 coal companies, alleging the unpaid civil penalties and reclamation debts. This is a clear example of the Biden administration punishing those who do not comply with their radical environmentalist agenda.
The timing of this action is highly suspect. It comes only days after a poll showed Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia, James C. Justice III’s father, defeating his Democratic opponent Senator Joe Manchin in a hypothetical match-up. It appears that the Democrats are trying to take down the Justice family, one member at a time, to maintain their hold on political power.
2024 West Virginia Senate: Jim Justice holds 22-Point lead over Joe Manchin
(R) Justice : 54% (+22)
(D) Manchin: 32%Justice approval: 57/29 (net +28)
Manchin approval: 33/59 (-26)ECU poll, May 22-23, 957 RV https://t.co/foJkr58fiY pic.twitter.com/H5rhdqS9UB
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 30, 2023
The actions taken by the DOJ are allegedly related to violations of environmental laws, but we all know that is not the real issue. The aim is to shut down successful businesses that employ hardworking Americans and provide energy to our country. By going after these coal companies, the DOJ is attempting to force its radical environmentalist agenda down our throats.
As Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas aptly put it, the Biden DOJ is the most political & partisan DOJ in history. It is brazen and shameful that the DOJ would single out and target conservative coal companies in such a blatant power grab.
The purported violations listed in the DOJ’s filing spanned over a five-year period. Although the defendants were given notice and ordered over 50 times to cease mining activities until their violations were abated, the DOJ alleges the defendants failed to remedy those violations. Instead, they were repeatedly cited by the OSMRE for over 130 violations concerning health and safety risks to the public and the environment.
Utterly brazen.
When I said the Biden DOJ is the most political & partisan DOJ in history, I wasn’t kidding…. https://t.co/lQPY1RlVJd
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 31, 2023
The defendants are also being accused of not paying the required AML fees, which fund the reclamation of coal mining sites abandoned or left in an inadequate reclamation status. The lack of payment of these fees is yet another excuse for the DOJ to go after these successful conservative businesses.
The total amount of penalties and AML fees, plus interest, penalties, and administrative expenses, owed by the defendants is around $7.6 million. This amount is nothing compared to the economic impact these businesses have provided to their states, employees, and communities.
The DOJ’s filing of this civil action is nothing more than a politically motivated attack on conservative businesses and their owners. It is time to stand up against the Biden DOJ’s radical environmentalist agenda and protect the hardworking Americans who provide critical energy to our nation.
Source: Trending Politics
