SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)--seen here at a hearing earlier this month--made a surprise announcement at the end of an October 28, 2021 congressional hearing on Big Oil climate misinformation that she would subpoena three fossil fuel companies and an industry lobby group. (Photo: Bill Clark/Pool/Getty Images)
House Dem Announces Subpoenas to 'Get to the Bottom' of Big Oil's Climate Disinformation
"We are at code red for climate," Rep. Carolyn Maloney said during a congressional hearing, "and I committed to doing everything I can to help rescue this planet and save it for our children."
Oct 28, 2021
In a surprise move at the end of Thursday's highly anticipated congressional hearing on fossil fuel companies' climate misinformation, the chair of the House Oversight Committee announced she will subpoena four Big Oil corporations and an industry lobby group that she accused of not cooperating with the panel's investigation.
Maloney said she plans to subpoena ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) to compel them to hand over documents they've withheld concerning the fossil fuel industry's efforts to misinform the public about their causal role in the climate emergency.
"We are at code red for climate and I committed to doing everything I can to help rescue this planet and save it for our children," she said during her closing remarks.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: @RepMaloney has announced her intent to issue subpoenas to ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and API for key documents they have refused to produce regarding the Committee\u2019s investigation into the fossil fuel industry\u2019s climate disinformation campaign.\u201d— Oversight Committee (@Oversight Committee) 1635454314
"We need to get to the bottom of the oil industry's disinformation campaign," Maloney added, "and with these subpoenas, we will."
Earlier during Thursday's hearing, Maloney--who said she had draft subpoenas ready to serve--attempted to force executives from the so-called #SlipperySix oil companies to commit to no longer funding opposition to emissions reductions and climate action.
"Unsurprisingly," she said, "no one took the pledge."
\u201cI demanded that Big Oil Execs pledge to simply no longer spend ANY MONEY to oppose emission reductions and climate action.\n\nUnsurprisingly, none took the pledge.\u201d— Carolyn B. Maloney (@Carolyn B. Maloney) 1635442464
In a statement noting the subpoenas, Kyle Herrig, president of watchdog group Accountable.US, called out the industry executives for refusing to force their powerful trade group to stop undermining climate action.
"Time and again, wealthy oil and gas company executives were given opportunities to tell API to stop bankrolling the fight against climate and environmental initiatives they claim to support, but they refused each and every time,"he said.
"These executives spend massive sums of money on feel-good ad campaigns designed to convince consumers their oil and gas companies care about our planet," Herrig added, "but when push comes to shove, they fund API to do their dirty work and endorse its misinformation campaigns with silence."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
In a surprise move at the end of Thursday's highly anticipated congressional hearing on fossil fuel companies' climate misinformation, the chair of the House Oversight Committee announced she will subpoena four Big Oil corporations and an industry lobby group that she accused of not cooperating with the panel's investigation.
Maloney said she plans to subpoena ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) to compel them to hand over documents they've withheld concerning the fossil fuel industry's efforts to misinform the public about their causal role in the climate emergency.
"We are at code red for climate and I committed to doing everything I can to help rescue this planet and save it for our children," she said during her closing remarks.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: @RepMaloney has announced her intent to issue subpoenas to ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and API for key documents they have refused to produce regarding the Committee\u2019s investigation into the fossil fuel industry\u2019s climate disinformation campaign.\u201d— Oversight Committee (@Oversight Committee) 1635454314
"We need to get to the bottom of the oil industry's disinformation campaign," Maloney added, "and with these subpoenas, we will."
Earlier during Thursday's hearing, Maloney--who said she had draft subpoenas ready to serve--attempted to force executives from the so-called #SlipperySix oil companies to commit to no longer funding opposition to emissions reductions and climate action.
"Unsurprisingly," she said, "no one took the pledge."
\u201cI demanded that Big Oil Execs pledge to simply no longer spend ANY MONEY to oppose emission reductions and climate action.\n\nUnsurprisingly, none took the pledge.\u201d— Carolyn B. Maloney (@Carolyn B. Maloney) 1635442464
In a statement noting the subpoenas, Kyle Herrig, president of watchdog group Accountable.US, called out the industry executives for refusing to force their powerful trade group to stop undermining climate action.
"Time and again, wealthy oil and gas company executives were given opportunities to tell API to stop bankrolling the fight against climate and environmental initiatives they claim to support, but they refused each and every time,"he said.
"These executives spend massive sums of money on feel-good ad campaigns designed to convince consumers their oil and gas companies care about our planet," Herrig added, "but when push comes to shove, they fund API to do their dirty work and endorse its misinformation campaigns with silence."
In a surprise move at the end of Thursday's highly anticipated congressional hearing on fossil fuel companies' climate misinformation, the chair of the House Oversight Committee announced she will subpoena four Big Oil corporations and an industry lobby group that she accused of not cooperating with the panel's investigation.
Maloney said she plans to subpoena ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) to compel them to hand over documents they've withheld concerning the fossil fuel industry's efforts to misinform the public about their causal role in the climate emergency.
"We are at code red for climate and I committed to doing everything I can to help rescue this planet and save it for our children," she said during her closing remarks.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: @RepMaloney has announced her intent to issue subpoenas to ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and API for key documents they have refused to produce regarding the Committee\u2019s investigation into the fossil fuel industry\u2019s climate disinformation campaign.\u201d— Oversight Committee (@Oversight Committee) 1635454314
"We need to get to the bottom of the oil industry's disinformation campaign," Maloney added, "and with these subpoenas, we will."
Earlier during Thursday's hearing, Maloney--who said she had draft subpoenas ready to serve--attempted to force executives from the so-called #SlipperySix oil companies to commit to no longer funding opposition to emissions reductions and climate action.
"Unsurprisingly," she said, "no one took the pledge."
\u201cI demanded that Big Oil Execs pledge to simply no longer spend ANY MONEY to oppose emission reductions and climate action.\n\nUnsurprisingly, none took the pledge.\u201d— Carolyn B. Maloney (@Carolyn B. Maloney) 1635442464
In a statement noting the subpoenas, Kyle Herrig, president of watchdog group Accountable.US, called out the industry executives for refusing to force their powerful trade group to stop undermining climate action.
"Time and again, wealthy oil and gas company executives were given opportunities to tell API to stop bankrolling the fight against climate and environmental initiatives they claim to support, but they refused each and every time,"he said.
"These executives spend massive sums of money on feel-good ad campaigns designed to convince consumers their oil and gas companies care about our planet," Herrig added, "but when push comes to shove, they fund API to do their dirty work and endorse its misinformation campaigns with silence."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.