AP Exclusive: Feds grill former BP chief Hayward

JACKSON, Miss. – Documents obtained by The Associated Press show former BP chief Tony Hayward fought off accusations that he sought to prop up the company's falling share price through his subordinates' daily media briefings on the Gulf oil spill.

The documents also show Hayward defending himself against accusations that the firm failed to keep its promise to share its data on how much crude was spewing into the sea.

Transcripts of a sworn deposition by Hayward last month in London show Hayward being grilled by lawyers for the U.S. government, plaintiffs suing BP and states harmed by the spill.

An attorney for Louisiana pointed to an email Hayward sent to an aide asking him to brief the media to counter "ridiculous stories" that were "the main reason behind the share price weakness."