A looking-glass maze of Ecuadoran courtroom battles that since 2003 has been the $27 billion rain forest pollution lawsuit against Chevron might be blown apart now. The case was originally filed by American lawyers representing tribes living in Ecuador’s Northern Amazon Region, claiming Texaco and then Chevron, which bought the former, was responsible for cleaning up extensive environmental damage from drilling in the area.

Last week, Chevron released undercover videos apparently showing the presiding case judge and officials of Ecuador’s ruling party negotiating a $3 million bribe from two supposed businessmen. The money was to be divided between the judge and Ecuador’s “presidency” in exchange for lucrative clean-up contracts after the judge’s “guaranteed” guilty verdict arrived this autumn. Chevron delivered its video recordings to the Ecuador national prosecutor, calling for disqualification of the judge and annulment of all his prior rulings. Ecuador’s attorney general promises a full investigation.