BP’s CEO faces hearing at Capitol Hill
Posted Jun 17, 2010 12:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The CEO of British Petroleum faced a barrage of accusations on Capitol Hill Thursday, for the explosion and sinking of its rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tony Hayward read a brief and contrite statement in which he apologized for April’s explosion.
Hayward admitted the spill should never have happened and promised the company will pay all cleanup costs and legitimate compensation claims.
The statement followed 90 minutes of bruising opening statements.
But Republican Joe Barton apologized to Hayward and accused the Obama administration of a political shakedown, forcing the company to put up $20-billion even before the cause of the spill is known.
Hayward has been accused of being more interested in cutting costs than safety.
The hearing is meant to prevent any future oil disasters, but what it doesn’t do is change what’s happening right now.
Millions of gallons of oil are still leaking into the Gulf of Mexico and BP said it will be at least two months before it can stop it.
This is Hayward’s first appearance before Congress.
