State attorneys general chill climate debate with government subpoenas

The Hill reports on an attempt to silence free speech in a form of a subpoena that CEI recieved from Attorney General Claude Walker. 

Over the past year, several state attorneys general have sought to subpoena from ExxonMobil and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a non-profit think tank, millions of records relating to climate change. Among them are the attorneys general from New York, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

These attorneys general are not targeting false information intended solely to induce a commercial transaction. They have sought information on donations made to think tanks and advocacy groups. One subpoena included a demand for communications between ExxonMobil and a number of journalists.

There has been stiff resistance, and rightfully so. The attorney general for the U.S. Virgin Islands subpoenaed the records of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

But he then withdrew the subpoena after facing a lawsuit from CEI and public outcry over the attempt by an elected official to intimidate a non-profit think tank.

Read the full article in The Hill.