Aubrey McClendon, former chief executive of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, died in a fiery car crash on Wednesday — the day after being indicted on federal antitrust charges.
McClendon was known as either a pioneer of the U.S. shale oil industry boom — or derided as the King of Fracking — depending on whom you ask. But, Tuesday’s indictment was not the first time he’d had trouble with the law concerning his enormously profitable business practices.
McClendon had issued a statement prior to his death, reported by Zero Hedge, in which he vowed to fight the charges:
The charge that has been filed against me today is wrong and unprecedented. I have been singled out as the only person in the oil and gas industry in over 110 years since the Sherman Act became law to have been accused of this crime in relation to joint bidding on leasehold. Anyone who knows me, my business record and the industry in which I have worked for 35 years, knows that I could not be guilty of violating any antitrust laws. All my life I have worked to create jobs in Oklahoma, grow its economy, and to provide abundant and affordable energy to all Americans. I am proud of my track record in this industry, and I will fight to prove my innocence and to clear my name.
The Wall Street Journal explained that in the bid-rigging scheme, Chesapeake, and an unnamed company allegedly colluded to decide ahead of time which would ‘win’ bids to purchase valuable land. After a ‘successful’ bid by one company, the other “would receive a share of what was purchased for whatever it had paid.” This is similar actions which led to a $25 million settlement between Chesapeake and the State of Michigan last year.
Though the current federal charges did not name Chesapeake Energy per se, it did refer to the time period in which McClendon had served as the company’s CEO.
Wednesday’s fatal crash has raised a few eyebrows — both for its timing and rather odd circumstances.
According to Oklahoma City Police in a press conference, McClendon’s 2013 Chevy Tahoe had been traveling at a high rate of speed when it drifted left of the center lane, off the road, and into a bridge abutment. Immediately, the car was engulfed in flames and it took fire crews some time to extract McClendon from the badly twisted and burned wreckage. He had been alone in the vehicle in fair weather; and, as far as police were aware at the time of their report, there were no witnesses.
Police stated they plan to analyze the vehicle’s built-in computer for further details about what could have caused the crash, but they were unwilling to speculate beyond speed as a possible factor.
Claire Bernish writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com
A perfect trifecta that seems to be happening with regularity these dayz…either suicide… or… made to look like suicide… or just a coincidence….. Hmmmm you decide…just remember what happened to that investigative reporter’s Mercedes in broad daylight in Florida….Dead men tell no tales.
I bet another car pushed him into the bridge support
Yeah. That was Michael Hastings (and it happened in Los Angelos) and I was wondering the same thing. I don’t know why they would want to off this oil dude, but “hasting” him seems very possible based on the circumstances of the “crash”.
Thx for the corrections……it was Gen S.McCrystal that was ultimately discharged from command in Afghanistan I believe because of neg. remarks about Obama reported by Hastings in the Rolling Stone…could be ‘payback’ by taking control of his vehicle by satelite/ wirelessly…. as the rumor mill goes
he was actually gaining ground but not by violence…therefore he had to be removed.
Also Gary Webb; Matt Simmons, titan oil investor outspoken about true magnitude of Gulf oil spill; John Wheeler, political and military insider rattled about massive bird and fish die offs; John Noveske, linked psychiatric meds to mass shootings; USAF members who thwarted attempted theft of Minot AFB nuke; holistic docs Gonzalez and Bradstreet onto vaccine nagalase link; Brittany Murphy and her husband killed by toxic mold; mid-level bankers, etc….we’re probably only aware of 5-10% of all “hits”.
Minot – http://www.globalresearch.ca/missing-nukes-treason-of-the-highest-order/7158
Noveske – http://www.naturalnews.com/039752_mass_shootings_psychiatric_drugs_antidepressants.html
Like the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ pre-war Germany with Hitler’s thugs…welcome to the 4th Reich…good dig -yo momma didn’t raise no fool…cheers
There is definitely something fishy about this story. For starters, McClendon was no stranger to legal procedings. He could easily have hired a fancy lawyer who would have kept him out of jail for years pending trial and appeal(s), if he ever went at all. There was no reason for him to kill himself before the first court appearance. I’m guessing he might have known some stuff that someone didn’t want told.