U.S. lawmakers behind a congressional probe of major oil companies have called on the Justice Department to investigate whether the industry has been deceiving the public about the impact of fossil fuels on climate change.
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Jamie Raskin, both Democrats, have outlined the findings of their nearly three-year investigation into Big Oil and are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take action.
The lawmakers accuse companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, and Shell, as well as industry groups like the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, of working together to mislead the public. They allege these entities have made promises to reduce emissions while simultaneously seeking to protect oil and gas production.
The letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland states that the “evidence, combined with the entities’ failure to comply fully with validly issued congressional subpoenas, suggests that further investigation by the executive branch is warranted.”
The DOJ has acknowledged receiving the letter but declined to comment on it. Chevron, BP, and Shell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ExxonMobil pointed to a previous statement addressing the allegations, which it said had already been addressed in congressional hearings and litigation.
The Chamber of Commerce and API have pushed back against the lawmakers’ allegations, with the Chamber’s Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley calling it an attempt to “criminalize a policy dispute” and the API describing it as a “political charade.”
The lawmakers’ move comes as the Biden administration and Congress have been taking steps to address climate change and hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in the crisis.