Lynch: DOJ Has Discussed Whether to Pursue Civil Action Against Climate Change Deniers

WHITEHOUSE: “Madam Attorney General, the similarities between the mischief of the tobacco industry, pretending that the science of tobacco’s dangers was unsettled, and the fossil fuel industry pretending that the science of carbon emission dangers is unsettled has been remarked on widely, particularly by those who study the climate denial apparatus that the fossil fuel industry has erected. Under President Clinton, the Department of Justice brought and won a civil RICO action against the tobacco industry for its fraud. Under President Obama, the Department of Justice has done nothing so far about the climate denial scheme. A request for action by the Department of Justice has been referred by you to the FBI. My question to you is other than civil forfeitures and matters attendant to a criminal case, are there other circumstances in which a civil matter under the authority of the Department of Justice has been referred to the FBI?”
LYNCH: “Senator, thank you for raising that issue, and thank you for your work in this area. I know your commitment is deep. This matter has been discussed. We have received information about it and have referred it to the FBI to consider whether or not it meets the criteria for what we could take action on. I’m not aware of a civil referral at this time. I will look into that and get back to you, but I’m not aware of a civil referral outside of the one that you just raised.” 
WHITEHOUSE: “Are there any civil cases with the United States as plaintiff within DOJ’s civil division in which the FBI is preparing the case for the civil division?” 
LYNCH: “Are you — regarding climate change issues?”
WHITEHOUSE: “Regarding any matter?” 
LYNCH: “I’m not — I couldn’t give you that information right now, in terms of whether or not —“
WHITEHOUSE: “I will take that as a question for the record.”
LYNCH: “Thank you.”