Leesburg, VA – Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun and Fairfax) today raised serious concerns about the actions of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in issuing a civil subpoena for information on former University of Virginia climate science professor Dr. Michael Mann’s research while at the university.
“On its face this seems to be a serious abuse of the power of the Attorney General,” Herring said. “This is Virginia, since when do we investigate professors when we disagree with them?”
“What would the founder of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, think of a government official using the powers of his office to investigate a teacher whose views the official disagrees with?”
“What is clear from Mr. Cuccinelli’s own words is that long before he took the oath office Mr. Cuccinelli had closed his mind to Dr. Mann and other scientists who are concerned about climate change. And in Virginia, Mr. Cuccinelli has a right to a closed mind, but what he doesn’t have the right to do is impose his conclusions on scientists who disagree with him. It’s wrong, it’s an abuse of power and its dangerous.”
“And it is, in these tough times a terrible waste of time and effort better spent on the real business of the office of Attorney General.”
“This action will jeopardize Virginia’s ability to attract scientists and researchers to our prestigious universities for fear that they will be investigated when the Attorney General disagrees with their findings, not to mention our ability to promote advanced technology industry locating in the Commonwealth.”
Senator Herring is a practicing attorney in Leesburg and a University of Virginia alumnus.