Repost from the New York Times
[Editor: See also the NYT ‘s 11/6 follow-up story, “More Oil Companies Could Join Exxon Mobil as Focus of Climate Investigations.” – RS]
Exxon Mobil Investigated for Possible Climate Change Lies by New York Attorney General
By Justin Gillis and Cllifford Krauss, November 5, 2015
The New York attorney general has begun an investigation of Exxon Mobil to determine whether the company lied to the public about the risks of climate change or to investors about how such risks might hurt the oil business.
According to people with knowledge of the investigation, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued a subpoena Wednesday evening to Exxon Mobil, demanding extensive financial records, emails and other documents.
The investigation focuses on whether statements the company made to investors about climate risks as recently as this year were consistent with the company’s own long-running scientific research.
The people said the inquiry would include a period of at least a decade during which Exxon Mobil funded outside groups that sought to undermine climate science, even as its in-house scientists were outlining the potential consequences — and uncertainties — to company executives.