Another former Freedom Industries executive wants U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office removed from prosecuting criminal charges in a chemical spill.
Ex-Freedom president and part-owner Dennis Farrell filed Tuesday’s motion in Charleston federal court.
Farrell’s lawyers claim Goodwin’s office has a conflict of interest because its employees and their families were victims of the Jan. 9 chemical spill that left 300,000 residents without tap water for days. Another ex-Freedom president, Gary Southern, filed a similar motion.
Prosecutors responded Wednesday, saying a recusal would be against public interest and fly in the face of the law.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston scheduled a Jan. 5 hearing on the motion.
Southern, Farrell, the company itself and four other Freedom officials face pollution charges. Southern also faces fraud charges related to Freedom’s bankruptcy case.