U.S. Democratic lawmakers have urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate major international oil companies for allegedly misleading the public about the environmental impact of their products.
This call follows claims that these companies engaged in deceptive practices regarding climate change.
The investigation, initiated by the U.S. House Oversight Committee in 2021, examined the fossil fuel industry’s role in spreading misinformation about the contribution of fossil fuels to global warming.
The inquiry, now conducted jointly with the Senate Budget Committee, has revealed “damning new documents” showing ongoing efforts by the industry to deceive the public and obstruct climate action, according to Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse.
The probe targeted ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, the American Petroleum Institute (API), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It uncovered evidence suggesting a pattern of deceptive claims about their products’ environmental effects and their commitments to reducing emissions and combating climate change.
Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse and House Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin have formally requested Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate these companies for their alleged disinformation campaign.
In their letter to the DOJ, they emphasized the fossil fuel industry’s extensive collaboration with trade associations to mislead the public, policymakers, and investors about their true stance on climate and energy issues.
“This is another unfounded political charade to distract from persistent inflation and America’s need for more energy, including oil and natural gas,” a spokesperson from the API responded, dismissing the allegations as a political maneuver.
The API insisted that U.S. energy workers are committed to providing reliable and affordable energy, and any suggestion otherwise is false.
