BP chief Tony Hayward refused Wednesday to criticize his company's actions leading up to the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill, angering US lawmakers by repeatedly saying he was out of the loop.
"I can't pass judgment on those decisions," Hayward told openly disbelieving members of a key House panel investigating the worst environmental disaster in US history. "I think it's too early to reach conclusions."
Hayward said he would wait until BP finished its probe into the April 20 blast that killed 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling platform, sank the rig, and sent oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico's waters.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Irritating Washington DC
Lawmakers grew increasingly irritated as Hayward turned aside a series of questions on whether he bore any personal responsibility for a series of controversial decisions by saying he was not involved in day-to-day operations.
"I wasn't involved in any decisionmaking," on issues like how to drill, test, or secure the well, said Hayward, who drew a charge from Democratic Representative Henry Waxman that he was "stonewalling" the committee.
"I'm not stonewalling. I simply was not involved in the decision-making process," replied Hayward, who sat alone at a long wooden table, a cup and pitcher of ice water in front of him, facing his questioners.
The troubled energy giant's top executive assured lawmakers he was "personally devastated" by the catastrophe and vowed: "We will not rest until we make this right."
But after that early show of contrition, Hayward defiantly put off scores of questions on whether BP acted appropriately in the run up to the explosion with lawyerly language.
"I'm not prepared to speculate on what may or may not have made a difference until such time as the multiple investigations that are ongoing are concluded," he said.
'You blew it'
"Quite frankly, BP blew it. You cut corners to save money and time," said Democratic Representative Bart Stupak, who chaired the hearing. "Did you manage the risk properly?"
"I have focused on safe, reliable operations. I've set the tone from the top by making it very clear to everyone in BP that safe, reliable operations are our number one priority," he said.
Analysts say BP could be hit with tens of billions of dollars in civil penalties and lost government contracts and possibly an outright ban from operating independently in US waters, especially if the firm is shown to have been negligent.
Prodded by Republican Representative Michael Burgess of Texas about the extent of his personal knowledge of the well before the blast, Hayward replied: "With respect, sir, we drill hundreds of wells a year all around the world."
"Yes, I know. That's what's scaring me right now," Burgess shot back.
Republican 'ashamed' of attacks on BP
Many lawmakers credited BP for agreeing - under intense pressure from President Barack Obama - to set up a 20-billion-dollar fund for spill victims along with a series of belt-tightening measures to cope with the crisis.
But Republican Representative Joe Barton of Texas, a frequent defender of the oil industry, declared himself "ashamed" of the move and told Hayward he was sorry for what he described as "a shakedown."
"I apologize," said the representative. "It is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case, a 20-billion-dollar shakedown."
The White House immediately denounced his comments as "shameful," accusing Barton of caring more for BP "than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated."
Hayward arrived to the room a few minutes before the hearing, ringed by a cordon of US Capitol Police and BP aides before settling at the witness table, bare except for his microphone, a pitcher of ice water, and cups bearing the US flag.
A few words into Hayward's testimony, an angry protester leapt up in the crowd, waving blackened hands and called out: "You need to be charged with a crime, Tony ... you need to go to jail!"
The activist group CODEPINK said the woman had been arrested and identified ther as Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation fisherwoman from the Gulf.
Hayward sat impassively, hands clasped, as a video of widows of those killed aboard the platform demanded retribution, with one saying "this tragedy will not be in vain" if global energy titans are held to account.
