Fact Check: Did Kamala Harris Sue Exxon Over Climate Change?

[Skya Rhen]

While she was pitching herself as a tough former California prosecutor who would lead on the climate crisis and make polluters pay, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris asserted Wednesday that she had sued the world's biggest private-sector oil company.

Ship...

New York filed such a lawsuit last October. But did Harris ever sue Exxon? The answer appears to be no. No lawsuit was filed against Exxon while Harris was California attorney general from 2011 to 2017, the state Office of the Attorney General confirmed Thursday.

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"Would you sue them?" asked CNN's Erin Burnett. "Sue ExxonMobil?"

"I have sued ExxonMobil," Harris shot back, provoking applause.

InsideClimate News could find no evidence that Harris had ever filed a lawsuit against Exxon, including while she was district attorney of San Francisco between 2004 and 2011.


https://insideclimatenews.org/news/05092019/fact-check-kamala-harris-sue-exxon-climate-change-town-hall?amp&__twitter_impression=true

[PoliticAverse]

1. Politifact rated her claim as "False"...

Kamala Harris claimed she ‘sued Exxon Mobil’ as California AG. She didn’t.

https://www.politifact.com/california/statements/2019/sep/06/kamala-harris/kamala-harris-said-she-sued-exxon-mobil-california/

[Kaleva]

2. Probably misspoke. As AG, she did sue Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.

"Chevron in 2013 paid $2 million in fines and restitution and pleaded no contest to six charges related to the Richmond fire, which sent thousands of residents to hospitals, many complaining of respiratory problems. Chevron entered the plea to charges filed by the California Attorney General's Office and the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, including failing to correct deficiencies in equipment and failing to require the use of certain equipment to protect employees from potential harm.

It also agreed to spend $20 million on improving the Richmond facility to settle claims made by California regulators."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chevron-agrees-to-pay-163-million-on-fine-and-upgrades-to-end-probes/


" Last month California Attorney General Kamala Harris sued ConocoPhillips and its spinoff, Phillips 66, for failing to properly inspect and maintain 560 underground gasoline storage tanks. This month, it’s BP’s turn.

Harris’ office filed a civil lawsuit February 1 in Alameda County Superior Court against BP West Coast Products, BP Products North America, Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) for the way they took care of more than 780 ARCO stations around the state. She was joined in the suit by district attorneys in eight counties.

The complaint alleges that since 2006, BP and ARCO have “intentionally tampered” with or disabled leak detection devices. The suit also claims the defendants failed to test secondary containment systems, maintain operational alarm systems, conduct monthly inspections and dispose of hazardous waste properly. "

http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/controversies/attorney-general-sues-bp-over-arco-gas-station-storage-tank-violations-130208?news=847001

"In 2013 California Attorney General Kamala Harris sued ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 for failing to properly inspect and maintain underground tanks used to store gasoline at more than 500 service stations in the state. The case is pending."

https://www.corp-research.org/conocophillips

There is also this:

"Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley today announced that Plains All-American Pipeline has been indicted by a grand jury on 46 criminal charges related to the May 2015 oil spill in Santa Barbara County. A Plains All-American Pipeline employee was also indicted on 3 criminal charges....

“Crimes against our environment must be met with swift action and accountability,” said Attorney General Harris. “The carelessness of Plains All-American harmed hundreds of species and marine life off Refugio Beach. This conduct is criminal and today’s charges serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences that flow from jeopardizing the well-being of our ecosystems and public health.”"

https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-announces-indictment-plains-all-american

[Andy823]

3. Thanks for posting that. nt

[crazytown]

4. Thank you.