D.C. Democrats send findings of Big Oil investigation to Justice Department (NYSEARCA:XLE)

Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill said Wednesday that they had forwarded the results of their votes to the Justice Department Investigating major oil companies and whether the industry has deceived the public about the effects of fossil fuels on climate change.

in Letter to the Ministry of JusticeSenate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse and House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin said documents uncovered during the three-year investigation show the oil and gas industry is using “deceptive practices” to “entrench fossil fuel use” and misinformation. The general public, including collaborating with trade groups and academic institutions to “give an aura of credibility” to their claims.

The group accuses ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), Shell (SHEL), BP, the American Petroleum Institute and the US Chamber of Commerce of engaging in a public relations “campaign of deception and duplication” while internally admitting it. Fossil fuels have been causing climate change since the 1960s.

“We believe there is sufficient evidence that the fossil fuel industry and trade associations may have violated one or more federal laws and, therefore, further investigation is warranted,” the letter said.

The American Petroleum Institute called the move “yet another baseless political charade to distract from persistent inflation and America's need for more energy, including oil and natural gas.”

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