Senator: denying climate change doesn’t violate federal law

We have some good news, and then some more good news. First, the nationmight be spared Sheldon Whitehouse’s weekly speech on climate change, as the senator from Rhode Island along with a presidential entourage so large we fear it could tip over and capsize the island caught a fossil fuel-burning flight to Cuba and is currently meeting with imprisoned dissidents. What’s that? Sorry, we meant to say he’s currently taking selfies and admiring Cuba’s architecture.

Time for a selfie! At baseball lunch with Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon. Jackie played here in 1947. #CubaVisit pic.twitter.com/7bTdaUwYS7

— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) March 22, 2016

A wonderful example of Cubas rich culture & architecture, we visited the Cathedral of Havana today. #CubaVisit pic.twitter.com/NFizqIQZ97

— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) March 22, 2016

There’s no denying the beauty of the cathedral, nor the impact Pope Francis had on Raul Castro during his own #CubaVisit. “I am from the Cuban Communist Party, that doesnt allow believers, but now we are allowing it,” Castro said at the time, hinting he might even consider rejoining the Catholic Church, so impressed was he with the pope’s timely messages on climate change and other topics.

Oh yes,climate change. Again, Whitehouse is in Cuba, so it was left toa spokesperson to clarifya letter the senator wrote in response to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, which he says “regularly sides with right-wing, climate denial outfits.”

Plenty of Political Climate Change: Sen. Whitehouse used to pretend he opposed jailing dissenters. https://t.co/onIKL5MxWw

— WSJ Editorial Page (@WSJopinion) March 16, 2016

Jailing dissenters? WPRI’s Ted Nesi, who last weekend notedthat Whitehouse had consulted with U.S. Attorney GeneralLoretta Lynch about pursinglegal action against companies that “deny” the settled science of climate change, received a letter fromRich Davidson explaining just what Whitehouse was proposing.

Spox clarifies: "Simply denying climate change isnt what Sen. Whitehouse believes could violate federal law." https://t.co/RMViHuGKAv (#10)

— Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) March 21, 2016

Explains Davidson:

Simply denying climate change isnt what Senator Whitehouse believes could violate federal law. Like courts found with tobacco companies, it can be a violation of the federal civil RICO statute when companies engage in an enterprise designed to mislead the public about the dangers of their products. The senators questions to the attorney general were to learn whether the Department of Justice is doing its due diligence to investigate whether fossil fuel special interests are leading a coordinated fraudulent effort to deceive the American people.

It’s such a relief to hear, we need to repeat it: “Simply denying climate change isnt what Senator Whitehouse believes could violate federal law.”

& @SenWhitehouse himself pens letter to @wsj editorial page saying he doesn't want to prosecute all climate skeptics https://t.co/ZmQIFcp1D8

— Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) March 21, 2016