CUGINI PLEADS ‘NOT GUILTY’ TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGE

Karen Frantz
GHG Monitor
12/13/13

Anthony Cugini, the former National Energy Technology Laboratory director, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge that he obstructed justice at his arraignment before Magistrate Judge Cynthia Eddy Dec. 10, according to the Clerk of Courts. The court appearance follows Cugini’s indictment by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 19 in which prosecutors alleged that in connection with a Department of Energy investigation into whether he misused his position as NETL director, Cugini “attempted to conceal and destroy evidence by directing witnesses to delete and redesignate NETL computer files and records, to ‘protect him’ during the investigation, and to provide false information in response to investigative inquiries,” according to a news release from U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton’s office. Cugini’s lawyer, J. Alan Johnson, could not be reached for comment.

GHG Monitor learned in September that Cugini was abruptly removed from his position and escorted off-site by security Sept. 18 for reasons that remain uncertain, although it reportedly came as part of an ongoing DOE Inspector General’s Office investigation. Cugini remained on administrative leave until Oct. 11, when he officially resigned. He has since been replaced on an acting basis by Deputy Director Scott Klara.