Peanut Corp owner pleads Fifth
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| Thu, 02-12-2009 - 1:57pm |
WASHINGTON -- See the jar, the congressman challenged Stewart Parnell, holding up a container of the peanut seller's products and asking if he'd dare eat them. Parnell pleaded the fifth.
The owner of the peanut company at the heart of the massive salmonella recall refused to answer the lawmaker's questions -- or any others -- Wednesday about the bacteria-tainted products he defiantly told employees to ship to thousands of manufacturers of cookies, crackers and ice cream.
Summoned by congressional subpoena, the owner of Peanut Corp. of America repeatedly invoked his right not to incriminate himself at the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on the salmonella outbreak that has sickened about 600 people, may be linked to nine deaths -- the latest reported in Ohio on Wednesday -- and resulted in one of the largest product recalls of more than 1,900 items.
Parnell sat stiffly, his hands folded in his lap at the witness table, as Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., held up a clear jar of his company's products wrapped in crime-scene tape and asked if he would eat them.
"Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, on advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer your questions based on the protections afforded me under the U.S. Constitution," Parnell responded.
After repeating the statement several times, lawmakers dismissed him.
The House panel released e-mails obtained by its investigators showing Parnell ordered products identified with salmonella to be shipped and quoting his complaints that tests discovering the contaminated food were "costing us huge $$$$$."
Last year, when a final lab test found salmonella, Parnell expressed concern about the cost and delays in moving his products.
"We need to discuss this," he wrote in an Oct. 6 e-mail to Sammy Lightsey, his plant manager.
"The time lapse, beside the cost is costing us huge $$$$$ and causing obviously a huge lapse in time from the time we pick up peanuts until the time we can invoice."
Complete article at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/399749_salmonella12.html






While the fact that he's claiming the Fifth when he obviously knew all about the
Agreed - they need to serve their time for such actions!
I'm sure he did know.
I'm surprised that Hannity and Limbaugh are not out their praising him for his cost cutting and smart management and turning a profit. After all turning a profit is what they think makes a "great American".