Imperial Sugar CEO defends Chambliss over subpoena

"He has behaved appropriately with integrity and character at all times," CEO John Sheptor told reporters after a groundbreaking ceremony at the Port Wentworth refinery. "We have not tried to influence Sen. Chambliss in any way."

While the Republican senator campaigns to win a Dec. 2 runoff against Democrat Jim Martin, he's also fighting a subpoena by a Savannah attorney seeking to question Chambliss in a lawsuit against Texas-based Imperial Sugar.

Attorney Mark Tate, who's suing the company on behalf of four victims and their families, says he believes Imperial Sugar executives persuaded Chambliss to harshly criticize a company whistleblower at a Senate hearing on the explosion.

The whistleblower, Vice President of Operations Graham H. Graham, testified at the July hearing that the company ignored repeated warnings about potential dust explosions. Chambliss said Graham, who had worked at Imperial Sugar for just three months before the explosion, was trying to protect himself and should have done more to improve conditions.

"This guy Graham knows he's on the hook," Chambliss said in an interview after the hearing.

Tate also says his clients have complained that Chambliss tried to discourage them from suing during a meeting with victims and families arranged by the company.

"To think that Saxby Chambliss was acting on his own is naive beyond all belief," Tate said.

Sheptor denied that the senator had acted in the interests of anyone other than his constituents.

"None of these allegations are truthful or factual," Sheptor said.