Barred oil executive hires lobbyists to burnish image

By Timothy Cama, Kevin Bogardus | 06/17/2024 06:41 AM EDT

Scott Sheffield, the founding CEO of Pioneer Natural Resourcesis, is fighting allegations of oil price collusion under investigation by lawmakers.

Scott Sheffield.

Scott Sheffield, then-CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, appearing remotely for an Energy and Commerce hearing on gasoline prices in 2022. Francis Chung/POLITICO

A former oil CEO at the center of a price-fixing scandal has turned to one of the most prominent lobby shops on K Street.

Scott Sheffield, who was the founding chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, has hired Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to advocate on his behalf, according to recently posted disclosure records.

Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been investigating whether the oil and gas industry has rigged costs at the pump, a claim that has become a prime election-year issue.

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Last month, the Federal Trade Commission claimed Sheffield coordinated with OPEC officials via text messages and private discussions to keep oil production low. The agency approved the sale of Pioneer to Exxon Mobil but barred him from serving on its board.

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