MARKEY OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING CENSORSHIP AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Washington, DC - In response to reports that a Smithsonian Institute exhibit on global warming was altered to not reflect the best scientific evidence available, Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is launching an investigation into the creation and alteration of the exhibit.

Today Chairman Markey sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian, Cristian Samper, asking for information pertaining to the exhibit, including letters or emails regarding the exhibit, a list of scientific and non-scientific consultants, and any correspondence with political bodies.

This revelation follows earlier examples of political pressure on government-affiliated scientific bodies under the current administration. Recently the Department of Interior put a gag order on polar bear scientists talking about the links between global warming and potential threats to the polar bear. Several years ago the Environmental Protection Agency allowed a former oil lobbyist working in the White House to censor global warming science from an agency report. And NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen has also been vocal on the government pressures on him to toe the party line on global warming science, contrary to the evidence.

“This administration’s pattern of stifling and censoring global warming science is too clear for us to ignore yet another possible example of political influence on climate science,” said Chairman Markey. “We can no longer allow the ideology of this President and his operatives of climate denial to compromise the reputations of our greatest scientists and proudest scientific institutions.”

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