From NBC's Scott Foster
Congressmen Ed Markey and Henry Waxman today announced they're posting on a House Committee Web site live video feeds of the underwater leaking BP oil well, saying the "public has a right to know what has happened."
But as of 2:30 p.m. ET, an hour after their press conference, the videos have not yet been posted on the Committee on Energy and Commerce Web site. A committee spokesman says they're having "technical difficulties with the live feed."
Markey, chairman of the Energy and Environment subcommittee, blasted BP in the news conference, saying the video feed shows the leak estimates from BP have been "dead wrong" and that the company has lost credibility.
According to Markey, "These videos stand as a scalding, blistering indictment of BP's inattention to the scope of the greatest environmental catastrophe in the history of the United States."
Waxman indicated he believes BP may actually know the total amount of oil leaking but "would rather not talk about it." Because he explained, "their previous estimates have been pretty much low-ball estimates as to the amount of oil that's coming through that pipeline."
Markey added, "I think we're now beginning to understand that we cannot trust BP...BP has lost all credibility, now the decisions will have to be made by others because it's clear that they have been hiding the actual consequences of this spill."
Waxman and Markey said the leak reinforces their believe that the U.S. needs to lessen its dependance on oil.