Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 26-state coalition of attorneys general in requesting a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into two climate activist organizations with alleged ties to China, citing potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
In a letter sent Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg, Knudsen raised concerns about Energy Foundation China (EF-China) and the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI), arguing the organizations may be acting on behalf of foreign interests without registering under FARA. The law requires organizations, individuals, or entities acting in the interest of a foreign principal to register with the Department of Justice.
Both EF-China and CCI are registered as U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Knudsen alleges they are engaged in political activities within the United States aimed at undermining the nation’s energy sector.
“Montana is a proud energy state, and I will not stand idly by when there are organizations, especially those linked to China, attempting to undermine our energy sector,” Knudsen said in a statement. “China is our greatest adversary and I’m asking Attorney General Bondi to investigate these organizations to ensure our energy is protected from foreign influence.”
According to the letter, EF-China and CCI appear to have received millions of dollars in grants from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, a United Kingdom-based charity that the attorneys general describe as aligned with the Chinese Communist Party. Knudsen argues that funding relationship could make the organizations agents of a foreign principal under FARA.
The coalition claims the groups use funds received from the foundation to support litigation, lobbying, and public relations campaigns targeting the U.S. energy industry and promoting what the letter describes as “radical environmental policy” opposed to domestic oil and gas development.
The attorneys general also allege EF-China employs several members of the Chinese Communist Party and former Chinese government officials, and that much of the organization’s leadership and staff are based in Beijing. While EF-China lists its headquarters as being in San Francisco on tax filings, Knudsen said the address corresponds to a coworking space within an office building.
Attorneys general from Iowa, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined Knudsen in signing the letter.
By: DNU staff