Feds Move Toward Criminal Inquiry of BP

The Justice Department appears to be very serious about bringing criminal charges against BP. A preliminary investigation is under way into whether the company skirted federal safety laws and then misled officials about its ability to plug the leak, reports the Los Angeles Times. Such investigations are often formalities, but the scope of this one looks to go well beyond that.

"Even in this early stage, it has the earmarks of one of the largest investigative undertakings of the Obama administration," writes Richard A. Serrano. President Obama has asked Congress to set aside $10 million for the inquiry, and high-ranking members of two of the department's big divisions (civil and environment) are in charge.
(More Gulf oil spill stories.)