Last week, I noted that Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee were suddenly demanding extensive information from seven prominent climate scientists, all of whom to varying degrees were not sufficiently toeing the line on climate change alarmism. Now, National Journal reports that Grijalva is now saying that the inquiry constituted “overreach” and is backing off:
But Rep. Raul Grijalva is also strongly defending his search for ties between fossil-fuel interests and climate research against charges that it’s a “witch hunt,” arguing that the thrust of the inquiry is aimed at providing important disclosures.
The Arizona Democrat sent letters last week to seven universities seeking information on the sources and amounts of external funding for research, consulting, travel, and more.
The letters also broadly asked for “communication” regarding the funding, and communication related to testimony to Congress and other bodies prepared by the professors.
“The communications back-and-forth is honestly secondary, and I would even on my own say that that was an overreach in that letter,” Grijalva, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, told National Journal on Monday. “I want the disclosure [of funding sources]. Then people can draw their own conclusions.”
This is a positive development, but Grijalva insistence that this is not a witch hunt doesn’t begin to pass the smell test. As one of the targeted climate scientists, the University of Colorado’s Roger Pielke Jr., noted last week:
Further, the Natural Resources Committee’s Democratic spokesman has said that the seven scientists being investigated were chosen because “to have the most impact on policy in the scientific community.” In other words, Democrats were openly admitting that they were trying to silence the debate over climate science. This whole episode is shameful, and Grijalva’s attempt to save face here is unconvincing — to put it mildly.
