Prison for Exxon Execs? Lawmakers Seek Probe of Oil Giant for Hiding Knowledge of Climate Change

[Fast Walker 52]

Source: Democracy Now!

For decades, Exxon has publicly questioned the science of global warming, contradicting internal findings by the company’s own scientists. Recent exposés by InsideClimate News and the Los Angeles Times reveal that Exxon concealed for decades its own conclusions that fossil fuels cause global warming, alter the climate and melt the Arctic. Exxon’s climate deception is now sparking calls for a federal probe similar to that which yielded a racketeering conviction of Big Tobacco for hiding the dangers of smoking. We are joined by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-California), who is calling for a Justice Department investigation of Exxon, as well as 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, who was just arrested for a one-man protest shutting down his local Exxon gas station. "It’s difficult to think of a company that could have set back humanity for decades, and perhaps permanently," Rep. Lieu says. "But that’s what happened here."

Read more: http://www.democracynow.org/2015/10/21/prison_for_exxon_execs_calls_grow

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Seems like this could be the worst crime in the history of the world, or close to it. Yay, capitalism!

[dbackjon]

1. We can dream

[uawchild]

2. "Prison for Exxon Execs?" I am afraid not.

My cynical and pragmatic side says it's never going to happen. Half of Congress is still in full out denial of man made climate change. Probably close to half the Supreme Court is too now that i think about it.

[dirtydickcheney]

3. There's no question that this is the biggest crime in the history of humanity.

And I greatly applaud this being exposed and justice being done.


Bernie Sanders and Ted Lieu are heroes for bringing this forward.

[hill2016]

4. which is the federal law being violated here?

just asking

[Abouttime]

7. The ICC

Crimes against humanity. I think destroying the environment with fossil fuels fits that description.

[hill2016]

8. great

now get everyone who drives a car or has taken an airplane flight to report to the nearest jail.

[chapdrum]

12. Why didn't I think of that?

That is so smart and relevant to the topic.

[Mr.Squirreleo]

11. I'm not seeing that here

They did internal research and decided not to release/publicize it, it not like they conspired to keep anyone else from doing the same research and reporting it. You could argue that they then went on to fund research opposing there original findings but that is completely allowed, just because you don't like what they chose to spend there research money on doesn't mean it illegal.

Hell if that was all it took for a crimes against humanity charge we would be able to literally charge every oil producer, miner, factory, and car owner in the world. Which I don't believe was the original intent of the ICC.

[Fast Walker 52]

14. you seriously don't have any problems with what they did?

"Hell if that was all it took for a crimes against humanity charge we would be able to literally charge every oil producer, miner, factory, and car owner in the world. "

They didn't have the info and most didn't have the same single goal in maintaining the use of fossil fuels for their own profit.

[Judi Lynn]

16. You have an honest, sincere hope to see that the right thing will be done. Bless your heart. Aw. n/t

[tk2kewl]

5. RICO

add in Koch, et al

[ToxMarz]

6. If they are modeling this after Big Tobacco, I don't believe any of them went to jail.

[onenote]

10. Correct. Or paid any monetary damages.

See post#9

[ToxMarz]

15. Yes great we agree, but the RICO case against Big Tobacco was "successful"

Even if people want to argue it should have been more (thus it wasn't successful). The take no prisoner's, absolute purity or die perspective assures failure. If there was support for that, it already wouldn't be an issue, but with marginal victories people get educated and we can eventually get there.

[onenote]

9. Before everyone gets too excited about this

Consider first that the RICO case against Big Tobacco was not a criminal case, it was a civil case. No one was "convicted." No one went to jail. In fact, no one was required to pay any monetary damages even though civil judgments were returned against the defendant companies. (The appellate courts held that the statute did not allow for monetary damages in this type of RICO action).

Consider second that it took six years to get from the filing of the complaint to the trial court verdict, that appeals are still ongoing today and that the remedy ordered by the court, such as it is was an injunction against Big Tobacco continuing to do what they were doing and a mandate that they publish corrective statements (which are still be litigated more than sixteen years after the case was brought).

I was excited when the case was brought against Big Tobacco but now I view it as a distraction and a waste of millions of dollars. I would rather the government be forward looking and go after energy companies for the activities that they engage in that harm the environment than look backwards at what they've said in the past.

[Fast Walker 52]

13. All good points, and all I can say is that this is a start

I think the bigger idea is just to get some attention to the idea of how evil Exxon is/was.