"Minutes into the questioning of oil company executives at a hearing on climate disinformation this morning, House Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney suggested the head of Exxon Mobil Corp. had perjured himself.
"They are obviously lying like the tobacco executives were," the New York Democrat said, referring to a 1994 hearing in which seven Big Tobacco execs said they didn’t believe nicotine was addictive.
Maloney’s assertion, which could have legal consequences for Exxon CEO Darren Woods if the Department of Justice agrees with her analysis, came after he defended comments from his predecessor, Lee Raymond.
That set the tone for a contentious hearing in which Democrats pressured oil and industry leaders over their lackluster climate commitments and Republicans generally tried to just change the subject."
Corbin Hiar and Nick Sobczyk report for E&E News October 28, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"Big Oil CEOs Testify Before House Oversight Committee" (Washington Post)
"U.S. House Democrats To Subpoena Big Oil In Climate Deception Probe" (Reuters)
"Maloney To Subpoena Top Oil Companies Over Climate 'Disinformation Campaign'" (The Hill)
"Oil Executives Grilled Over Industry’s Role in Climate Disinformation" (New York Times)
"Exxon CEO Accused Of Lying About Climate Science To Congressional Panel" (Guardian)
"Oil Giants Deny Spreading Disinformation On Climate Change" (AP)