Albany

Republicans on a congressional science committee are asking state Attorney General to fork over a number of records related to his probe of climate change and what Exxon Mobil may have known about its effects on the environment.

Thirteen GOPers on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee sent the letter to Schneiderman, a Democrat, on Wednesday expressing concerns that he and other state attorneys general may be trying to stifle the free speech of some because they have a different political view of climate change. This after attorneys general in more than a dozen other states announced in March that they would join Schneiderman in probing whether Exxon Mobil lied to investors and the public in the past about the threat of climate change.

Similar letters were sent to attorneys general in 17 states. Letters also were sent to eight environmental groups.

"The Committee is concerned that these efforts to silence speech are based on political theater rather than legal or scientific arguments, and that they run counter to an attorney general's duty to serve 'as the guardian of the legal rights of the citizens' and to 'assert, protect, and defend the rights of the people,'" the letter states. "These legal actions may even amount to an abuse of prosecutorial discretion."

The letter requests a number of records, including all documents and communications between Schneiderman's office and anyone at a number of environmental groups, including Greenpeace and the Union of Concerned Scientists. It also seeks communications between Schneiderman's office and offices of other attorneys general related to the investigation and communication between Schneiderman's office the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency and the White House.

The request covers communications from 2012, when the committee claims interest groups began efforts to instigate an investigation, until the present.

Schneiderman's office is reviewing the letter, but offered an initial sharp-tongued retort.

"It is remarkable that a do-nothing congress that has refused to take any action on climate change is now attempting to disrupt this important investigation into potential corporate malfeasance," Schneiderman spokesman Eric Soufer said, adding that the signatories of the letter "appear to be part of a multi-pronged media campaign funded by the fossil fuel industry aimed at suppressing the free exchange of ideas among scientists, academics, and responsible law enforcement."

The letter, a shot across the bow from a Republicans, does not carry the force of law. A congressional committee can exercise subpoena power, though the letter is nothing more than a simple request for the documents.

Asked the committee planned to issue subpoenas for records if Schneiderman, other attorneys general or the environmental groups do not comply, a committee spokesperson said the committee "has no reason to believe they will be anything but completely forthcoming."

mhamilton@timesunion.com • 518-454-5449 • @matt_hamilton10

The letter is below:

05 18 16 Sst Letter to Ny Ag by Matthew Hamilton