Two House Democrats formally refer Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution, accusing him of lying to Congress. In a letter released Wednesday, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) contend that Wright misrepresented whether certain “green” grant programs were canceled for partisan reasons. The lawmakers say Wright’s sworn testimony at a congressional proceeding conflicts with their understanding of the circumstances surrounding the grant cancellations. They argue that the discrepancy amounts to false statements under federal law and therefore warrant referral to DOJ.
The referral is part of an ongoing dispute over the administration of energy and environmental grant programs and whether political considerations played a role in decisions to cancel or alter them. DOJ is not yet reported to have taken any action in response to the request. Wright has not been described in the provided summaries as conceding wrongdoing, and the allegations are presented by the lawmakers making the referral. Overall, the matter centers on the accuracy of Wright’s statements to Congress regarding the motivations behind the grant cancellations.
