Down in the Gulf of Mexico, BP is said to be "pleased" with the effort thus far to recap the oil leak, an effort that they took up in earnest over the weekend. But at least one former BP contractor, Adam Dillon, is less than pleased with his BP paymasters and has come forward to talk about his experiences to WDSU in New Orleans. Over at ThinkProgress, Brad Johnson has more:
On Friday, contractor-turned-whistleblower Adam Dillon told New Orleans television station WDSU he was fired "after taking photos that he believes were related to the use of dispersants and to the cleanup of the oil." As a BP liaison, he had rebuffed reporters' attempts to observe cleanup operations in Grand Isle, LA, in June, before being promoted to the BP Command Center near Houma, LA. At the command center BP manages the private contractors running practically every aspect of the spill response. Dillon, a former U.S. Army Special Operations soldier, "has lost faith in the company in charge."
While we haven't heard of Dillon by name before, we've met him. He was one of the contractors that headed off WDSU's Scott Walker in his attempt to interview BP clean-up crews on Grand Isle. Here's video of that incident:
And here's Walker's interview with Dillon, now:
WALKER: Why did you want to talk to me tonight?
DILLON: Because of what I told you on Grand Isle that day. When you met me and you were straight with me and I saw the way that you were being treated, I told you I wish I could tell you more. And after the way BP treated me, I'm telling you now that you deserve an answer and that's why you're getting an answer.
Dillon says he was fired by BP after he took photos of chemical dispersants being used to break up the spill and brought them, along with his concerns, to the attention of his superiors. He was subsequently sacked but not before being "confined and interrogated." Dillon has praise for his fellow crew workers and contractors, but he describes BP as being full of "cutthroat individuals."
WDSU will air the rest of its interview with Dillon tonight at ten o'clock. In the meantime, Johnson's got additional details, including links to similar stories, describing attempts to overcome the media blackout imposed by BP. By all means, check it out.
RELATED:
Former Contractor: 'Cutthroat' BP 'Not Worried About Cleaning Up That Spill' [Think Progress]
PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Oil Spill Media Access: BP Officials Continue To Block Reporters (VIDEO)