The University of Virginia was given a was given a subpoena by VA Attorney General Cuccinelli, who wanted to investigate/imtimidate climate scientist Michael Mann (he of "hockey stick" fame) for possible fraud. The subpoena has now been quashed for lack of evidence.
Judge Paul Peatross Jr. ruled that while the Virginia attorney general could investigate state grants awarded to scientists, Cuccinelli and his staff failed to demonstrate that such an investigation was warranted in this case. "The nature of the conduct is not stated so that any reasonable person could glean what Dr. Mann did to violate the statute," the judge wrote. "... The Court...understands the controversy regarding Dr. Mann’s work on the issue of global warming. However, it is not clear what he did that was misleading, false or fraudulent in obtaining funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Francesca Grifo, director of UCS’s Scientific Integrity Program:
In this case, independent scientists have repeatedly reviewed Dr. Mann’s work and found no evidence of wrongdoing. Ken Cuccinelli is targeting Mann because he disagrees with the scientist’s conclusions. These sorts of dangerous attacks distract scientists from their work and can have a chilling effect on all kinds of research.
"Hopefully, Cuccinelli will now stop wasting taxpayer dollars on this misguided crusade against a good scientist. Scientists must be free to do their work without the fear of harassment. Then we all can benefit from the discoveries they make."
"Hopefully" is the operative word here. Mann, who is now at Penn State, and other climate scientists like the late Stephen Schneider have been the subject of intimidation and will undoubtedly continue to be harassed. Ken Cuccinelli is only one of the numerous Rovians who have subverted justice and science for political purposes.
He can refile, specify a specific instance, and try to make his case.
Mann has already been investigated and exonerated by Penn State:
Mann has become widely known for his production of the "hockey stick" graph of recent temperatures, which suggests that the past few decades have been the warmest period in over 1,000 years. Although his original reconstruction has been publicly attacked, subsequent research by Mann and others has replicated his general conclusions. Mann's correspondence also made an appearance in the cache of e-mails taken from the University of East Anglia, which led his current institution, Penn State University, to launch an inquiry that cleared him of any wrongdoing.
"Hotnufforya?" is what they say in Texas. I guess it isn't.