An Attorney General Under Sanders To Force Feed Climate Change Action?

[DrFunkenstein]

Most of the conversation has been about what Sanders could accomplish by getting his agenda passed through Congress, but I wonder how much Sanders could avail himself of the executive powers to push the fossil fuel industry to change practices in a truly major shift.

The state of New York is investigating whether Exxon Mobil misled the public and investors about the risks of climate change, a move sought by environmentalists that could signal a broader reckoning with the conduct of big energy companies.

A spokesman for Exxon Mobil confirmed Thursday that the company had received a subpoena from the office of the attorney general of New York, Eric Schneiderman, related to the subject of climate change and was “assessing” its response.

The investigation focuses on whether Exxon Mobil intentionally clouded public debate about science and hid from investors the risks that climate change could pose to its business according to a person familiar with the matter.

Schneiderman has broad leeway to take on such a sweeping target under both consumer protection laws and New York’s Martin Act, a securities law that protects investors.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/11/05/exxonmobil-under-investigation-for-misleading-the-public-about-climate-change/

Under the Martin Act, you cannot lie to investors or suppress information from them. There is a much lower bar for guilt than in a typical criminal procedures. With the full force of a Sanders administration pushing aggressively, you could see ramifications for the fossil fuel industry far beyond what was imposed upon the Big Tobacco industry. Not only could there be fines, but there can be demands for sweeping reforms towards clean, renewable energy.

Because he hasn't taken money from the fossil fuel sector, he would feel no qualms about pushing them to foot a large part of the bill for for shifting the US economy towards sustainable energy. And Republicans and "moderate" Democrats would be powerless to stop it.

Perhaps it is time to rethink what would be possible under a Sanders administration. An aggressive, Eliot Spitzer-type of AG is one possibility for bringing about short-term changes to climate change or other major issues. Thoughts?

[HooptieWagon]

1. I think the AG under Sanders...

Will be less concerned with pot-smoking grannies, and more concerned with white-collar criminals, corporate polluters, and racist police departments.

The AG under Clinton will be status quo. The DoJ has been a big disappointment for quite some time. I had big hopes Obama would fix it, but Nope prevailed over Hope.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

2. Yes - and I hope they will be very busy

...

[DrFunkenstein]

3. Sanders is Already Pressing Obama's AG To Nail Exxon For FEDERAL Crimes

Hadn't seen this before!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today asked the Department of Justice to investigate potential fraud by Exxon Mobil Corp. over conflicts in what it knew and what it told the public and shareholders about the cause of climate change.

In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Sanders asked for a probe into what he called a “potential instance of corporate fraud” by the oil giant.

“Exxon Mobil knew the truth about fossil fuels and climate change and lied to protect their business model at the expense of the planet,” Sanders said. He likened Exxon Mobil’s conduct to claims by the tobacco industry about the health risks associated with smoking.

In his letter, Sanders cited an investigation by Inside Climate News, the non-profit, non-partisan news organization, which suggested that Exxon Mobil scientists conducted extensive research on climate change as early as 1977.

The company’s scientists reportedly found that climate change is real and caused partly by carbon pollution from petroleum products.

Nevertheless, the world’s fourth largest oil company participated in an industry-wide public relations campaign which cast doubt about the emerging scientific consensus on global warming.

Since 1998, Exxon Mobil pumped $31 million into think tanks and organizations that tried to sow doubts about mainstream climate science.

“These reports, if true, raise serious allegations of a misinformation campaign that may have caused public harm similar to the tobacco industry’s actions – conduct that led to federal racketeering convictions,” Sanders wrote in the letter to the nation’s top law enforcement official.

“Based on available public information, it appears that Exxon knew its product was causing harm to the public, and spent millions of dollars to obfuscate the facts in the public discourse. The information that has come to light about Exxon’s past activities raises potentially serious concerns that should be investigated,” Sanders told the attorney general.

Here's the actual letter to AG Loretta Lynch:

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/sanders-letter-to-ag-lynch-regarding-exxon?inline=file