Report: Mass. AG ordered to Texas court for 'unprecedented' questioning

BOSTON — A federal judge in Texas has ordered Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to submit to questioning from Exxon lawyers, according to Bloomberg.

The business publication reports the massive oil company has been given "an unprecedented chance to question a state law-enforcement officer."

Healey is investigating whether the company hid what it knew about climate change as early as the 1970s.

Multiple investigations accuse Exxon of hiding early findings showing a link between global warming and the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Exxon denies that it suppressed findings from its own research that dates back more than 30 years.

According to Bloomberg, U.S. District Court Judge Ed Kinkeade, in Dallas, has ordered Healey to appear in court on Dec. 13 to face questions from Exxon.

Exxon has called the state investigations an effort to silence the company in the public debate about climate change.
Two environmental groups that were issued subpoenas said Texas Republicans involved in the case have been acting on behalf of Exxon and other oil companies that have contributed thousands of dollars to their campaigns.

"Rep. [Lamar] Smith's acceptance of large donations from Big Oil and Gas provides explanation into his history of baseless attacks against climate science," the groups 350.org and Greenpeace USA said in a statement. Since 2008, Smith has received a total of $675,597 from the fossil fuel industry, $19,500 which came directly from Exxon Mobil, the groups said.

Smith is among a large group of congressional Republicans who reject mainstream climate science. He said Healey and NY’s attorney general were pursuing "a political agenda" on behalf of environmental groups that are fighting Exxon over decades-old research related to climate change.

NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was added to the company’s lawsuit and has been ‘advised’ by Kinkeaded to appear in court alongside Healey, according to Bloomberg.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group