BER NARD SANDE RS 332 SENATE DIHKSEN OFFICE BUILDING
VERMONT WASHINGTON, DC 20510
(202! 224?5141

COMMITTEES: 1 CHURCH STREET, 3RD FLOOR
BUDGET, RANKING MEMBER BunnNmoN, VT 05401

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ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

. . WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4504
HEALTH, EDUCATION. LABOR, AND

PENSIONS



October 20, 2015

The Honorable Loretta 
Attorney General of the United States
US. Department of Justice

950 Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Loretta 

I am writing concerning a potential instance of corporate fraud behavior that may ultimately
qualify as a violation of federal law. I respect?rlly request the Department investigate these
allegations, and take appropriate action if the investigation yields evidence of wrongdoing.

According to an eight-month investigation by journalists at Inside Climate News, Exxon now
ExxonMobil may have conducted extensive research on climate change as early as 1977. As a
result, it appears that top Exxon scientists concluded both that climate change is real and that it
was caused in part by the carbon pollution resulting from use of Exxon?s petroleum-based
products. In addition, the purported internal business memoranda accompanying the news report
asserted that Exxon?s so-called ?climate research program? was launched in response to a
perceived existential threat to its business model.

In 1998, the New York Times reported that Exxon participated in the American Petroleum
Institute?s Global Climate Science Communications Plan, an effort aimed at stressing
?uncertainty? on climate science. Exxon has since contributed more than $31 million since 1998
to think tanks and organizations that cast doubt on mainstream climate science.

These reports, if true, raise serious allegations of a misinformation campaign that may have
caused public harm similar to the tobacco industry?s actions conduct that led to federal
racketeering convictions. Based on available public information, it appears that Exxon knew its
product was causing harm to the public, and spent millions of dollars to obfuscate the facts in the
public discourse. The information that has come to light about Exxon?s past activities raises
potentially serious concerns that should be investigated.

 

I am heartened that, according to your September 9, 2015, memorandum ?[?ighting ceiporate
fraud and other misconduct is a top priority of the Department of Justice.? 1 request that the
Department form a taskforce by December 19, 2015, to determine whether there is suf?cient
evidence to launch an of?cial inquiry against any actors and entities involved. I look forward to
hearing the Department?s recommendations in a timely manner.

Thank you for your time and close consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,

Bernard Sanders
United States Senator