Criminalizing climate change dissent? A new abuse of power

The Sacremento Bee reports on the subpoena CEI recieved for their climate research, which was an attack on their first amendment rights. 

After the announcement, U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Walker moved to subpoena ExxonMobil (as well as the Competitive Enterprise Institute) for all of its research, correspondence and communication regarding climate change, including with third parties such as think tanks, foundations and universities, as well as individual researchers, scientists and writers.

This is a flagrant abuse of authority. It also sets a dangerous precedent – one with serious economic implications that will undermine scientific and public policy debates and chill speech protected by the First Amendment.

The First Amendment protects not just ExxonMobil but also CEI and numerous other organizations and individuals from being forced to disclose their internal communications, internal work product, research, writings, and other communications on a public policy issue as controversial as climate change. The AGs seem to be engaged in a massive fishing expedition.

Read the full article at The Sacramento Bee.