A group of 34 Democratic lawmakers has issued a public plea to President Joe Biden, urging him to pardon environmental lawyer Steven Donziger, who is best known for securing a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron for pollution in Ecuador.
The lawmakers, including prominent figures from both the House and Senate, argue that the charges against Donziger are rooted in retaliation for his legal battle against the oil giant and represent a dangerous precedent for environmental and human rights advocacy.
The letter, sent to the White House on December 11, comes after years of legal battles that have made Donziger controversial.
Donziger represented Indigenous communities and farmers in Ecuador who were affected by Texaco’s (later acquired by Chevron) environmental devastation in the Amazon.
Between 1964 and 1992, Texaco dumped billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into the Ecuadorian Amazon, causing severe health problems and environmental degradation in the region.
In 2011, an Ecuadorian court issued the historic $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron for its role in the pollution, a ruling later upheld by the country’s highest court.
However, Chevron refused to pay, instead pursuing legal action against Donziger in the U.S. falsely accusing him of fraud and extortion related to his legal strategy.
In 2014, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled in favor of Chevron, and the case took a dramatic turn in 2019 when Donziger was charged with contempt of court for not complying with a court order to hand over confidential case files.
Donziger argued that releasing these files would violate attorney-client privilege. Despite the U.S. Attorney’s Office declining to prosecute, Judge Kaplan appointed a private law firm with alleged ties to Chevron to handle the prosecution.
Donziger was convicted of contempt in 2021, disbarred, and sentenced to a period of house arrest, which lasted for over two years—far exceeding the usual punishment for such a charge.
The Democratic lawmakers’ letter, led by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and joined by figures such as Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) plus Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), argues that Donziger’s prosecution was politically motivated and intended to silence legal advocates working on behalf of vulnerable communities.
“In light of the highly suspect charges against Mr. Donziger and their alarming connection to his work as an environmental lawyer, we ask that you exercise your power of executive clemency to issue a full and unconditional pardon,” the letter reads.
The lawmakers express concern about the broader implications of the case, warning that it sets a “chilling effect” on advocates for environmental justice and human rights. They argue that the U.S. legal system has been manipulated by corporate interests, such as Chevron, to intimidate those seeking to hold powerful entities accountable for harm to the public and the environment.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, have also condemned Donziger’s treatment. In 2021, the UN body ruled that Donziger’s extended detention violated international human rights standards.
Donziger’s supporters, including environmental groups, legal experts, and political leaders, contend that the lawyer’s persecution is a result of his success in holding Chevron accountable for one of the most significant environmental disasters in history.
Chevron’s decision to challenge the Ecuadorian ruling and target Donziger in the U.S. has sparked widespread criticism, with calls for the company to respect the legal decision and compensate the victims of the Amazon oil spill.
The letter from Congress highlights the need for a pardon as a statement against corporate impunity.
“Pardoning Mr. Donziger would send a powerful message to the world that billion-dollar corporations cannot act with impunity against lawyers and their clients who defend the public interest,” the lawmakers wrote.
While the White House has not yet responded to the letter, this latest push adds to the growing momentum for Donziger’s pardon. As of now, Donziger remains one of the most visible figures in the ongoing debate over corporate accountability and environmental justice.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.