NEW ORLEANS – A former BP executive accused of obstructing a congressional investigation into the 2010 Gulf oil spill remains on track for a trial next year, despite defense efforts to have the charges dismissed.
A Justice Department spokesman says U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt on Wednesday declined to throw out one count against David Rainey and took under advisement defense motions to throw out another count.
Rainey is accused of obstructing a congressional investigation into the spill that began with the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday to an updated version of the indictment against him. He remains free on bond and is set for trial March 9.
