Contact: Matt Dempsey matt_dempsey@epw.senate.gov 202-224-9797

Inhofe Launches "Climategate" Investigation

Warns Participants to Retain Documents

Washington, D.C.-Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today sent letters to several scientists, some of whom allegedly manipulated data to prove the scientific "consensus" of global warming, as well as to the inspectors general of several federal agencies, notifying them to retain documents related to the release of emails from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit in England.

"The stakes in this controversy are significant, as it appears that the basis of federal programs, pending EPA rulemakings, and cap-and-trade legislation was contrived and fabricated," Sen. Inhofe said.  "Moreover, it appears that, in an attempt to conceal the manipulation of climate data, information disclosure laws may have been violated.

"I certainly don't condone the manner in which these emails were released; however, now that they are in the public domain, lawmakers have an obligation to determine the extent to which the so-called ‘consensus' of global warming, formed with billions of taxpayer dollars, was contrived in the biased minds of the world's leading climate scientists."

The letters are the first step in the investigation of the climate scandal.  Last week, emails released by a computer hacker revealed that several leading climate scientists allegedly manipulated climate data and research used by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  These scientists also appear to have refused outside access to their raw data, obstructed freedom of information requests, and plotted ways to prevent the publication of papers in peer-reviewed journals by scientists who question global warming alarmism.

LETTERS TO AGENCY OFFICIALS

Letter to Preeta Bansal, Office of Management and Budget

Letter to Gregory Friedman, U.S. Department of Energy

Letter to Bill Roderick, Environmental Protection Agency

Letter Todd Zinser, U.S. Department of Commerce

Letter to Gary Guzy, Cousel on Environmental Quality

Letter to Mary Kendall, U.S. Department of Interior 

LETTERS TO UNIVERSITY LABS

Letter to Paul Ehlenbach, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Letter to Meg McClellan, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Letter to Wendell Courtney, Penn State University

Letter to Paul Forch, University of Virginia

Letter to Deirdre Heatwole, University of Massachusetts

Letter to Lynne Wood, University of Arizona 

LETTERS TO SCIENTISTS

Letter to Dr. Benjamin Santer

Letter to Dr. Tom Wigley

Letter to Dr. Michael Mann

Letter to Dr. Caspar Ammann

Letter to Raymond S. Bradley

Letter to Dr. Malcolm Hughes  

ROUND 2 LETTERS - DECEMBER 02, 2009

Letter to Jane Chalmers, NOAA

Letter to Thomas J. Howard, NASA

Letter to Allison C. Lerner, National Science Foundation

Letter to Thomas C. Peterson, NOAA / National Climatic Data Center

Letter to Thomas R. Karl, NOAA / National Climatic Data Denter  

Letter to Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, University of Arizona

Letter to Dr. Susan Solomon, NOAA / ERL, Chemical Sciences Division

Letter to Dr. Kevin E. Trenberth, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Letter to Dr. Gavin A Schmidt, NASA Goddard Institute

RELATED:

Washington Times Editorial: Hiding Evidence of Global Cooling

Wall Street Journal Editorial: Global Warming With the Lid Off

IBD Editorial: The Day Global Warming Stood Still

Listen: Inhofe Says He Will Call for Investigation on "Climategate" on Washington Times Americas Morning Show

Inhofe Talks with Hot Air's Ed Morrissey about "ClimateGate"

Inhofe Floor Speech: Inhofe Calls 2009 "The Year of the Skeptic"

Link to 2005 Inhofe Senate Floor Speech: "Today, I will discuss something else - scientific integrity and how to improve it. Specifically, I will discuss the systematic and documented abuse of the scientific process by an international body that claims it provides the most complete and objective scientific assessment in the world on the subject of climate change - the United Nations-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. I will conclude with a series of recommendations as to the minimum changes the IPCC must make if it is to restore its credibility."

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