GOP legislators, climate attorneys feud over oil industry lawsuits

By Lesley Clark | 10/08/2024 06:13 AM EDT

Republicans in Congress say climate litigation against oil companies is being bankrolled by dark money. Climate lawyers say the fossil fuel industry is spreading misinformation.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is helping lead a probe of a law firm involved in a sprawling set of cases seeking compensation from the oil industry for the ravages of climate change. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Congressional Republicans say multimillion-dollar contributions from progressive groups to a law firm that backs climate litigation against the oil and gas industry should prompt further scrutiny.

In a memo released Monday, Republican staff of the Senate Commerce and House Oversight committees said their probe into the financial backing behind California-based Sher Edling “should amplify concerns about tax-exempt organizations funding for-profit law firms’ litigation, particularly when those lawsuits have the potential to cripple a critical industrial sector.”

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Senate Commerce ranking member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) opened their inquiry last year, accusing Sher Edling of relying on “wealthy liberals” to pursue lawsuits they say are aimed at achieving “a left-wing goal lacking majority support in Congress: the eradication of fossil fuels.”

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The investigation comes as dozens of states, cities and counties have filed lawsuits seeking to hold major oil and gas companies financially accountable for misleading the public about the dangers of burning fossil fuels.

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