Overview
- Cruz told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that the Chinese Communist Party has funneled millions into U.S. climate advocacy groups to bankroll lawsuits against energy producers.
- He warned that the Environmental Law Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project has trained over 2,000 judges using a predetermined political narrative on climate litigation.
- As Commerce Committee chair, Cruz sent a letter to the Environmental Law Institute and opened oversight inquiries with federal agencies over its judge training program.
- During the hearing he clashed with Democratic ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse, who dismissed the allegations as conspiracy theories.
- An ongoing investigation will examine potential foreign influence on U.S. energy policy through coordinated lawfare tactics.