Releasing this picture got a Department of Energy photographer fired. He doesn’t regret it.

The following article by Mark Hand was posted on the ThinkProgress website January 22, 2018:

Simon Edelman leaked a photo of coal baron Robert Murray’s “action plan.”

MURRAY ENERGY CEO ROBERT MURRAY PRESENTED ENERGY SECRETARY RICK PERRY WITH AN ACTION PLAN AT A MARCH 29, 2017 MEETING AT DOE HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON. CREDIT: SIMON EDELMAN

A Department of Energy photographer who was fired after releasing photos he took of a meeting between Energy Secretary Rick Perry and a prominent coal executive wants federal authorities to open a criminal investigation into what he calls “public corruption” between Perry and the industry official.

At the meeting, photographer Simon Edelman said Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray asked Perry for policy changes that would directly benefit his coal company and the executive’s personal financial position. The reason to release the photos “was to show the evidence of corruption that was taking place,” Edelman told ThinkProgress. Continue reading “Releasing this picture got a Department of Energy photographer fired. He doesn’t regret it.”