In a move that’s being compared to an episode of The Sopranos, BP has reportedly been trying to buy off as many scientists as they can along the gulf coast, where the worst environmental disaster in the history of the United States is still raging on.

BP went so far as to try and hire the entire marine scientist department at the University of South Alabama, and were turned down after the lawyers got a hold of the contract. In it, BP states that scientists are prohibited from “publishing their research, sharing it with other scientists, or speaking about the data that they collect for at least the next three years,” according to documents obtained by Mobile’s Press-Register.

Basically, BP is trying to cover their own butts by having as many scientists on their payroll as possible, so when it comes time for the Natural Resources Damage Assessment to bring about a lawsuit that will drag on forever in court, there won’t be anyone credible left to testify against them.

There’s nothing stopping these scientists from signing on with BP, either, since most universities allow employees to do outside consultation for up to eight hours a week. Word has it, BP is offering them $250 a week, plus signing bonuses. Let’s see, working eight hours a week at $250 and hour adds up to $104,00 a year on top of their regular salary. Pretty tempting, yet you have to wonder just where the morals of these people are who have already signed on with BP, and yes, there have been a bunch. Scientists from Louisiana State University, University of Southern Mississippi and Texas A&M are among the bunch.

It kind of makes me sick that BP is getting away with this. Watch the video from the Rachel Maddow Show to see what I mean, and tell me this doesn’t cause your blood to boil.

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