New Indictment Against Ex-BP Exec

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal grand jury has issued a new indictment against a former BP executive charged with obstructing a congressional investigation into the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Friday's superseding indictment makes adjustments to existing obstruction of Congress and false statement charges against David Rainey, who faces a March 9 trial. It follows months of appeals over whether Rainey could be tried on the obstruction charge. Ultimately, an appeals court said that he could.

Prosecutors allege that Rainey — during a May 2010 congressional briefing — failed to disclose information about the rate that oil was spewing from BP's blown-out well following the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

They also claim Rainey gave false information to a subcommittee chairman. Rainey has pleaded not guilty.