US Virgin Islands to withdraw subpoena in climate probe into Exxon

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Virgin Islands’ attorney general yesterday agreed to withdraw a sweeping subpoena issued against Exxon Mobil Corp as part of a push by a coalition of state prosecutors to try to investigate whether the world’s largest publicly traded oil company misled the public about climate change risks.

“After conferring on the matter, the parties mutually agreed that Attorney General Walker will withdraw the subpoena and Exxon Mobil will stipulate to the dismissal without prejudice of this action,” read a filing in U.S. district court signed by lawyers from both sides.

U.S. Virgin Islands’ Attorney General Claude Walker filed a subpoena in March seeking decades of documents related to Exxon’s climate science and commentary.

Exxon, which has said that it has acknowledged the reality of climate change for years, called the subpoena unreasonably burdensome and intrusive. It also raised questioned about jurisdiction.