At the center of this scandal is the infamous Revolving Door. The TransCanada company wants to build the Keystone Pipeline to import ultra dirty Tar Sands oil from Canada, and they need the approval of the State Department and Hillary Clinton. So TransCanada went out and hired one of the former top adviser from Hilliary's presidential campaign as a lobbyist.
After first refusing a Freedom of Information Request from three enviromental groups the State Department is now dragging its feet about complying with the FOIA law, or even if it will comply at all.
Oil Pipeline Foes Sue State Department for Release of Documents
Opponents of a pipeline that would nearly double U.S. imports of Canadian oil-sands crude sued the State Department today in a bid to force speedy disclosure of any contacts it made with a lobbyist for the pipeline's sponsor.
The suit stems from a December Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by three advocacy groups seeking to view potential communications between the department -- which is set to decide on a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline by year's end -- and Paul Elliott, a lobbyist for its sponsor, TransCanada Corp.
Elliott's past work as an adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton prompted the push by the three groups-turned-plaintiffs, all of which have criticized Clinton for appearing partial in previous remarks on the merits of Keystone XL.
Opponents of a pipeline that would nearly double U.S. imports of Canadian oil-sands crude sued the State Department today in a bid to force speedy disclosure of any contacts it made with a lobbyist for the pipeline's sponsor.
US State Dept sued for pipeline lobbyist documents said.
The groups want access to communications between the department and Paul Elliott, who was national deputy director for Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.
After the campaign, Elliott was hired by TransCanada (TRP.TO: Quote), which is working to gain approval from the State Department for its planned Keystone XL pipeline. Because the project crosses the Canada-U.S. border, the State Department must grant approval.
"Clearly, TransCanada hired Mr. Elliott to take advantage of his previous service to Hillary Clinton," said Kenny Bruno from Corporate Ethics International, which is also part of lawsuit.
The supplemental review issued last month reached the same conclusions of the first analysis, which said there would be limited adverse environmental impacts from the project.
How the Department of State can characterize compounding changes to the Earth's climate lasting centuries as having "limited adverse environmental impacts" boggles my mind.
I first diaried this ethics scandal in December:
Hillary faces ethics charge over Tar Sands Pipeline permit
Also see my earlier diary on Hillary's approval of Enbridge Energy's Alberta Clipper Tar Sands oil pipeline in August of 2009.
Why did U.S. just OK new pipeline to import Tar Sands Oil?
Unfortunately Secretary Clinton decided that Enbridge Energy's profits were more important than putting the brakes on CO2 emissions.
If Hillary approves this second Tar Sands Oil pipeline, she may responsible for boosting America's greenhouse gas emissions more than U.S. official since George W. Bush.
Please contact the Secretary Of State and urge Hillary to make the correct choice for future generations of Americans.
202-647-4000
Dept. of State Public Communication Division: 202-647-6575
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