Someone please tell me what is wrong with this?

[BushOut06]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070727/NATION02/107270089

<snip>
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he will investigate a threatening letter sent by the leader of an EPA-member group, vowing to "destroy" the career of a climate skeptic.

During a Capitol Hill hearing yesterday, Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican and ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, confronted EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson about the strongly-worded letter written July 13 by Michael T. Eckhart, president of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) that was sent to Marlo Lewis, senior fellow of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI).

"It is my intention to destroy your career as a liar," Mr. Eckhart wrote. "If you produce one more editorial against climate change, I will launch a campaign against your professional integrity. I will call you a liar and charlatan to the Harvard community of which you and I are members. I will call you out as a man who has been bought by Corporate America. Go ahead, guy. Take me on."
<snip>

Someone help me out here. I fail to see where a crime was committed. There were no threats of death, violence, bodily harm, or even vandalism. Repugs use this tactic all the time, trying to destroy the careers of those they disagree with. Did Mr. Eckhart actually do anything wrong here?

[Blue Belle]

1. Uhm... yeah.

He dared to question/uncover a corporate whore.

[aquart]

2. If Inhofe wishes to air this discussion, by all means, let him.

Witless, shortsighted twit. Another Republican abuse of power.

[Fridays Child]

3. Truth is acid on Inhofe's skin.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Kick ASS Michael T. Eckhart!!!

:kick:

[cynatnite]

5. Nobody's calling Johnson a liar and charlatan already? n/t

[lostinacause]

6. As a politician this type of behavior could be considered "acceptable".

From a scientist it is problematic. This type of thing does not make good science and can easily be interpreted as intimidation by members of the public.

[BushOut06]

7. Goes both ways

How long have the repugs been ripping anybody who tries to make a case for global warming as a 'charlatan', and dismissing their claims as 'junk science'?

[lostinacause]

9. I'm talking about scientists, particularly those with subject area knowledge.

[zbdent]

8. Before Faux News, I wouldn't have speculated that someone could have

a career as a liar ...

(mincing words ... hee hee hee ...)