Ex-convict coal magnate says to run for SenateCHARLESTON, W. Va. (Reuters) - Don Blankenship, the former CEO of coal company Massey Energy who was recently released from jail after a sentence for violating mine safety laws, said on Wednesday he plans to run for U.S. Senate representing West Virginia. “It’s true,” he told Reuters in an email, without elaborating. Local broadcaster WCHS-TV first reported the news earlier on Wednesday, saying Blankenship filed his registration papers this week to run as a Republican, making him an official candidate for the seat during 2018 elections.  A Federal Election Commission spokeswoman said she had not yet seen the filing. Blankenship was sentenced to a year in prison in April 2016 for conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards, following an explosion in 2010 at Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 people.  He is the most prominent American coal executive to be jailed for mine deaths. He was released in May 2017. He has maintained that his conviction was unfair and the accident at Upper Big Branch was distorted by the media. If Blankenship wins the Republican nomination, he would be up against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin, who was governor at the time of the Upper Big Branch explosion and vehemently criticized Blankenship over the incident. Rival Republican Senate candidate Patrick Morrisey said he welcomed Blankenship’s entry into the race. politicsNews
coal magnate says run senatecharleston reuters don blankenship former ceo coal company massey energy recently released jail sentence violating mine safety laws said wednesday plans run senate representing west virginia it true told reuters email without elaboration local broadcaster first reported news earlier wednesday saying blankenship filed registration papers week run republican making official candidate seat elections a federal election commission spokeswoman said yet seen filing blankenship sentenced year prison april conspiring violate federal mine safety standards following explosion massey upper big branch mine killed people he prominent american coal executive jailed mine deaths he released may he maintained conviction unfair accident upper big branch distorted media if blankenship wins republican nomination would incumbent democrat joe machine governor time upper big branch explosion vehemently criticized blankenship incident rival republican senate candidate patrick morris said welcomed blankenship entry race politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-convict coal magnate says to run for SenateCHARLESTON, W. Va. (Reuters) - Don Blankenship, the former CEO of coal company Massey Energy who was recently released from jail after a sentence for violating mine safety laws, said on Wednesday he plans to run for U.S. Senate representing West Virginia. “It’s true,” he told Reuters in an email, without elaborating. Local broadcaster WCHS-TV first reported the news earlier on Wednesday, saying Blankenship filed his registration papers this week to run as a Republican, making him an official candidate for the seat during 2018 elections.  A Federal Election Commission spokeswoman said she had not yet seen the filing. Blankenship was sentenced to a year in prison in April 2016 for conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards, following an explosion in 2010 at Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 people.  He is the most prominent American coal executive to be jailed for mine deaths. He was released in May 2017. He has maintained that his conviction was unfair and the accident at Upper Big Branch was distorted by the media. If Blankenship wins the Republican nomination, he would be up against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin, who was governor at the time of the Upper Big Branch explosion and vehemently criticized Blankenship over the incident. Rival Republican Senate candidate Patrick Morrisey said he welcomed Blankenship’s entry into the race. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: coal magnate says run senatecharleston reuters don blankenship former ceo coal company massey energy recently released jail sentence violating mine safety laws said wednesday plans run senate representing west virginia it true told reuters email without elaboration local broadcaster first reported news earlier wednesday saying blankenship filed registration papers week run republican making official candidate seat elections a federal election commission spokeswoman said yet seen filing blankenship sentenced year prison april conspiring violate federal mine safety standards following explosion massey upper big branch mine killed people he prominent american coal executive jailed mine deaths he released may he maintained conviction unfair accident upper big branch distorted media if blankenship wins republican nomination would incumbent democrat joe machine governor time upper big branch explosion vehemently criticized blankenship incident rival republican senate candidate patrick morris said welcomed blankenship entry race politicsnews