Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) said Thursday that, if elected president, he would use the power of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for damaging the environment.

At a climate forum hosted at Georgetown University, MSNBC host Chris Hayes asked Sanders if he would pursue litigation tactics similar to those that secured a massive settlement from the tobacco industry.

“Duh,” Sanders said. “Of course I would.”

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The Vermont senator, a 2020 Democratic presidential nomination contender, told Hayes the government would have a strong case given that fossil fuel companies knew their product was having a damaging effect on the climate.

“I’m not a lawyer, and I’ll need a good attorney general to help me out with this,” he said, stressing the need to hold company CEOs accountable.

"They knew that it was real. Their own scientists told us that it was real," Sanders said of fossil fuels' impact on climate change.

This isn’t the first time Sanders has used a drawn-out “duh” in response to a question on the environment. During the CNN climate forum, Sanders used similar remarks to express his support for reversing President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE’s rollback of efficiency standards for lightbulbs.

--Updated at 3:15 p.m.