PEANUT OWNER REFUSES TO TESTIFY CONGRESS

PEANUT CO. OWNER REFUSES TO TESTIFY CONGRESS
The owner of a peanut company refused to testify to Congress on Wednesday amid disclosure that he urged his workers to ship bacteria-tainted products. Pleading with employees least “the raw peanuts on the floor into money.”
Steward Parnell, owner of Peanut Corp. of America, repeatedly invoked his right not to incriminate himself after sitting before the house subcommittee holding a hearing on a national salmonella outbreak blamed on his company.
He sat stiffy, his hands folded in his lap at the witness table, as one law maker held up a clear jar of his compeny's products wrapped in crime scene tape and asked him if you be will to eat the food.
“MR chairman and members of the committtee on advice of my counsel, I respectively decline to answer your questions based on the protections afforded me the US Constitution,” Parnell said in response. After repeating the statement sesveral times, he was dismissed from the hearing.
The house panel released e-mails obtained by its investigators showing Parnell ordered products identified with salmonella shipped and quoting his complaints that test discovering the contaminated food were “cost us huge $$$$”.
Parnell's response to final lab test showing salmonella was about how much it would cost and the impact testing was having on his moving his products.