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California Attorney General (AG) Kamala Harris is investigating. New York AG Eric Schneiderman is investigating. It's time for our Congress to open an investigation into Exxon's climate cover up. Click here to demand Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman James Inhofe hold Exxon accountable.

Friend,

By now you have heard about the climate cover-up scheme conducted by Exxon.1 Despite knowing about dangers and causes of climate disruption, Exxon funded and fueled a culture of climate denial and public obfuscation. They weren't alone, as new reports indicate other Big Oil corporations and the American Petroleum Institute (API) were also complicit.2

Thanks to our actions, California AG Kamala Harris will launch an investigation into Exxon's climate crimes.3 She joins New York AG Eric Schneiderman, who opened his own investigation last year, referring to climate change as, "the defining issue of our time."3 But it could take months, if not years, for the public to get answers from those investigations. Exxon is refusing to comply with the time frame AG Schneiderman set for them to hand over documents. Just like we can't afford to wait for action on climate, we also shouldn't delay getting answers from Exxon and everyone involved in this climate cover-up scheme.

That's where our old friend and Climate-Denier-In-Chief, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) comes in. As the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee it's his job to investigate whether Exxon and Big Oil executives lied to Congress and the American people when they testified for years that climate change wasn't a real, urgent threat. Let's be honest, Inhofe and Big Oil are known to have a special relationship -- but he's not know for keeping his thoughts to himself (like that time he tossed a snowball to prove global warming isn't real). If enough of us call for a hearing now, Inhofe might take the bait -- to push back on our climate claims as much as to hold Exxon accountable. Click here to tell James Inhofe he should be holding hearings on Exxon and climate change, not snowballs.

Throughout is career, James Inhofe has always been able to depend on Big Oil. In fact, over his political career, they have been his biggest contributor, giving nearly $2 million to his various election campaigns.4 Two of his biggest contributors have been the Koch Brothers and Murray Energy, who aren't known for helping the American people learn the full scope of climate change's impacts. Maybe Inhofe's close ties to Big Oil are why he's been silent on the #ExxonKnew issue so far. But by holding a hearing, Inhofe would be forced to defend his position that climate change is a hoax from the science Exxon and Big Oil have pursued since the 1970s -- which is exactly what we want.

Every Senator and Member of congress should demand answers from corporations that mislead the American people and may have lied to Congress. For their part, Exxon has stated, "We unequivocally reject allegations that ExxonMobil suppressed climate change research contained in media reports that are inaccurate distortions of ExxonMobil's nearly 40-year history of climate research."5 With statements like that, you'd think Exxon would jump at the chance to raise their right hand and swear an oath before Congress to tell their side of the story.

Sen. Inhofe must decide now if he's going to put campaign contributions ahead of his country and justice. He has to decide if he's working for the special interests or in the interests of the public and the planet, and he has to make these decisions quickly. Click here to demand Inhofe hold a Congressional Hearing into Big Oil's climate cover-up.

Thanks for taking a stand,

Anthony for Environmental Action 

1. Banerjee, Neela, Song, Lisa and Hasemyer, David. Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago. Inside Climate News. September 16, 2015.

2. Lieberman, Amy and Rust, Susanne. Big Oil Braced For Global Warming While it Fought Regulations. Los Angeles Times. December 31, 2015.

3. Schwartz, John.  California Said to Target Exxon in Climate Inquiry. The New York Times. January 20, 2016.

4. Center for Responsive Politics: James Inhofe Career Contributions.

5. Goldenberg, Suzanne. ExxonMobil Under Investigation Over Claims it Lied About Climate Change Risks. The Guardian. November 5, 2015.

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