Legislators call for end of DoJ investigations into opponents of administration’s energy policies

In a Thursday letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), David Perdue (R-GA) and David Vitter (R-LA) called on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to end the use of law enforcement resources against political opponents of President Barack Obama’s energy agenda.

“These actions provide disturbing confirmation that government officials at all levels are threatening to wield the sword of law enforcement to silence debate on climate change,” the letter said. “As you well know, initiating criminal prosecution for a private entity’s opinions on climate change is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and an abuse of power that rises to the level of prosecutorial misconduct.”

The letter requests that Lynch confirm that all investigations into the views of any private individual on climate change are ended within 14 days and calls for a promise not to initiate any future such investigations.

“Freedom of thought and inquiry is at the very heart of liberty,” Cruz said. “Sadly, the Obama administration and its allies in state attorney general offices across the country are threatening to use the power of government to intimidate and ultimately silence companies and researchers who do not agree with the government’s opinions about the allegedly harmful effects of climate change and what should be done about it. This is an abuse of power and a direct assault on the First Amendment. The Obama Justice Department should immediately cease any further consideration of such action and should instead do everything in its power to protect the freedom of thought of all Americans.”