A couple of weeks ago Texas Rep. Lamar Smith continued the abuse of his powers as Chair of the House Science committee by attempting to bully the United States Securities and Exchange (SEC) to disclose everything they may or may not have done in starting an investigation into ExxonMobil. This comes after months and months of Rep. Smith using his position on a SCIENCE committee to subpoena state attorneys general in a seemingly never-ending attempt to defend the fossil fuel industry from charges that they perpetrated a fraud for decades concerning what was known about greenhouse emissions and climate change. The (SEC) has come back with a short and sweet letter. Here are two of the three paragraphs:
Thank you for your September 29, 2016 letter regarding media reports of a purported investigation of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
While I am aware of the press accounts referenced in your letter, the Securities and Exchange Commission conducts investigations on a confidential basis. We do so in order to protect the integrity of our investigations, safeguard the privacy of witnesses, and avoid damaging the reputations of parties who may not be charged. For these reasons, the Commission generally does not acknowledge the existence or non-exitence of as investigation unless and until charges are filed. Accordingly, I cannot comment specifically on the matter raised in your letter.
In my mind Chair Mary Jo White of the SEC signed her name as she flipped the piece of paper the bird. Rep. Smith has used the “politically motivated” card to attack state attorneys general in their investigations into Exxon Mobil, but his attempts at politicizing the SEC are probably going to have a much harder time finding purchase.