Imperial Sugar (14 dead 40 injured) May Have Injected Itself Into Key U.S. Senate Race

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.fortbendnow.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=701039&article-Imperial-Sugar-May-Have-Injected-Itself-Into-Key-U-S-Senate-Race%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_bullets&open=&

by Bob Dunn
3 days ago

Sugar Land's Imperial Sugar Co. could find itself playing a role in a pivotal U.S. Senate race that may decide whether the Democratic Party holds a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority.

The race in question involves a December runoff election between incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of George and Democratic challenger Jim Martin.

Imperial Sugar apparently injected itself into the political race on Wednesday, when Chief Executive Officer John Sheptor made comments defending Chambliss. Chambliss is under fire for trying to resist a subpoena in a lawsuit filed by families of victims of explosions and a fire Feb. 7 at Imperial's Port Wentworth plant near Savanhah, Ga.

The Savannah Morning News quoted attorney Mark Tate as saying that Sen. Chambliss tried to talk some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit out of joining the court action against Imperial.

Tate also said Imperial Sugar "enlisted" Sen. Chambliss to discredit Imperial Vice President for Operations Graham Graham, who testified at a Senate hearing this summer that Imperial "thwarted efforts to make working conditions safer," the Savannah newspaper reported.

On Wednesday, Sheptor said the allegations against the senator are false, adding the Imperial made no efforts to influence Chambliss.

FULL story at link.

[hlthe2b]

1. Georgians: what is the impact of this coverage in GA?

Is it widely being covered in both print and television media? What is the public reaction?

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Of course the CEO would deny those charges. It sure would not reflect very well on him

or his company to say anything else.
I hope that those who are voting in Ga remember to consider the source when hearing about this...