This does not sound like a positive start. There have already been instances of BP not responding to funding health care clinics for workers so don't be surprised when BP starts questioning the full extent of their financial responsibilities. Now more than ever, it's time for the administration to take much more control, including setting up an escrow account to fund the recovery effort. It's unfortunate that BP is already stonewalling the investigation.
Mr. Vidrine was supposed to testify Thursday but dropped out, citing an undisclosed medical issue, according to a Coast Guard spokeswoman. Another top BP official who was scheduled to testify Thursday, Robert Kaluza, declined to do so, asserting his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, the Coast Guard spokeswoman said.
Mr. Kaluza's lawyers, in a statement, said: "Bob did no wrong on the Deepwater Horizon, and we will make ... sure that this comes out at the appropriate time."
BP declined to comment on the testimony.
A Transocean spokesman said in a written statement: "The testimony certainly seems to suggest that [Mr. Harrell] disagreed with the operator's instructions, but what those were and why he disagreed are matters that will ultimately be determined during the course of investigations."
