Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena. It challenges her investigation into whether Exxon misled consumers and investors about global warming.
The subpoena asks Healey’s office to send copies of all of its communications with U.S. Department of Justice, the White House and groups like Greenpeace. She says the fraud investigation into Exxon has ticked off some in Congress, such as Republican Lamar Smith, chair of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
“His position is without legal authority,” Healey says. “And we will address it appropriately in our response, but more importantly our work will continue. And we’ll go wherever the facts leads us.”
The committee says it’s investigating whether there’s been a “coordinated attempt to deprive companies” of their First Amendment rights “to conduct scientific research free from intimidation.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren has backed Healey, tweeting to Smith and Exxon “you picked a fight with the wrong state & the wrong AG.”