Cuccinelli Probe Of Climate Scientist Blasted As 'Witch Hunt'

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/cuccinelli_probe_of_climate_scientist_blasted_as_w.php

An investigation by Ken Cuccinelli of a climate scientist who was caught up in last year's "Climate-Gate" flap is being likened to a "witch hunt" -- even by global warming skeptics.

As we reported yesterday, the conservative Virginia attorney general last month demanded that the University of Virginia hand over a slew of documents relating to the grant-funded research of Michael Mann, a climate scientist who worked at UVA from 1999 to 2005. Among the materials requested by May 27 were email correspondence with a long list of other climate scientists, including several who, like Mann, were prominent figures in Climate-Gate. You can see Cuccinelli's "Civil Investigative Demand," first obtained by the The Hook, a Charlottesville newspaper, here.

A spokesman for Cuccinelli declined to comment on the probe to TPMmuckraker, other than to confirm the authenticity of the demand letter. But the AG himself told the Washington Post: "In light of the Climategate e-mails, there does seem to at least be an argument to be made that a course was undertaken by some of the individuals involved, including potentially Michael Mann, where they were steering a course to reach a conclusion. Our act, frankly, just requires honesty." Cuccinelli already is suing the EPA over its efforts to regulate global warming pollution.

But Mann himself, now the director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University, was less reticent. "It seems as if some would rather create distractions to fool the public, rather than confront the reality of human-caused climate change," he told TPMmuckraker in an email. "I consider that very unfortunate."

He's not the only one blasting the probe. Climate-change skeptic Thomas Fuller co-wrote a book on Climate-Gate, published earlier this year, which was harshly critical of Mann and other climate scientists. But in an open letter to Cuccinelli, Fuller urged him to call off the dogs, writing: "No matter what has prompted your investigation, there is no doubt that it will be interpreted as a witch hunt." He continued: "Being wrong is not a crime, and intimidating scientists not a path that this country, including I presume Virginians, should ever pursue. You may consult with colleagues in Salem to determine how long it takes to live this type of thing down."

[hayu_lol]

1. Cuccinelli is just another wanna-be Ashcroft...

except that he can neither write bad songs nor sing them.

While he is busy hiding the boobs from the innocent people of Virginia, he forgot to investigate all those federal postage stamps from days of yore that all had pics of famous statues with exposed boobs.

The man is a total boob himself.

[Dappleganger]

5. Ashcroft was a prude

but Cuccinelli is a self-serving bully and bigot.

[FarCenter]

2. Why would UVA have a records retention policy that retained emails for 10 years?

Consult with your lawyers, but email (and other electronic documents, records, and data) should be kept no longer than required by law or regulations applying to your organization.

[MountainLaurel]

3. That man gets battier and battier

I wonder what's next on his agenda: Dunking women he things are witches in the James River? Anointing his staff with olive oil?

[smoogatz]

4. Limited government at work.

UVa should tell Cuccinelli to get a warrant or shove it. Let's see a judge sign off on this and then we'll talk.