Washington Post Editorial Slams Ken Cuccinelli "Embarrassing" Witch Hunt Against Climate Scientist

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
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The Washington Post penned an excellent editorial yesterday deriding Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelliโ€™s political attack against climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann, a former UVA professor whom Cuccinelli has targeted in a witch hunt. ย 

The Post editorial notes that โ€œthe overblown critique of climate science that emerged early this year continues to underwhelm,โ€ citingย several examples of the recent rash of politically-motivated attacks on climate science, including the much-ado-about-nothing โ€˜Climategateโ€™ episode last winter, the repeated attacks against the integrity of the U.N. IPCC, and of course Mr. Cuccinelliโ€™s witch hunt against UVA and Mikeย Mann.ย 

This weekโ€™s ruling by Circuit Court Judge Paul Peatross confirming that Cuccinelli lacked โ€œan objective basisโ€ for his witch hunt โ€œput a damper on a pernicious fishing expedition,โ€ the Postย says.

But that hasnโ€™t checked โ€œMr. Cuccinelliโ€™s zeal,โ€ since he immediately announced plans to re-rig his fishing pole and try again to smear Dr. Mann, โ€œthereby extending his assault on academic freedom,โ€ says the Post.

The editorial closes with sharp criticism for Cuccinelliโ€™s attempt to โ€œembarrass Virginiaโ€:

โ€œWe hope he rethinks his course. At this point all he can do is waste more taxpayer money, force the university to waste more of its money and embarrass Virginia in a way that can only harm its higher education system.โ€ย 

Check out the full editorial,ย โ€A judge puts a damper on Mr. Cuccinelliโ€™s U-Va. witch hunt.โ€ย 

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
Brendan is Executive Director of DeSmog. He is also a freelance writer and researcher specializing in media, politics, climate change and energy. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Grist, The Washington Times and other outlets.

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