Trump DOJ moves to kill Minnesota climate-fraud case
The U.S. Justice Department sued Minnesota on Monday to block the state's 2020 climate-deception lawsuit against oil companies, asking a federal court to stop the case and halt discovery. (fox9.com)
The complaint names ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, Flint Hills Resources and the American Petroleum Institute. DOJ says Minnesota's suit unlawfully intrudes on federal authority to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the action frivolous and said he will move to dismiss the federal complaint immediately.
The episode traces back to June 2020, when Ellison sued the companies under state consumer-protection law, accusing them of decades of deception about fossil fuels' climate harms. Defendants briefly moved the case to federal court but it was sent back to state court and survived motions to dismiss. On April 15 the Minnesota Supreme Court denied industry petitions, clearing the case to enter discovery before the Justice Department filed its federal suit. As of March 2026 more than 35 states and municipalities had active lawsuits accusing oil companies of climate deception and seeking damages.
The Justice Department argues the state suit seeks to impose uniform national climate policy and so intrudes on federal power to regulate greenhouse gases. Critics call the move political interference, while supporters praise it for protecting energy costs and preventing state-by-state regulation. The split comes against the backdrop of a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases.
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📊 Relevant Data
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Act))
Regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act — Wikipedia
As of March 2026, there are more than 35 active lawsuits by states and municipalities against oil companies seeking accountability for climate deception and damages. ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf)) ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf)) ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf)) ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf)) ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf)) ([Center for Climate Integrity](https://climateintegrity.org/uploads/media/CCI-BigOilAccountabilityLawsuits.pdf))
Big Oil Accountability Lawsuits — Center for Climate Integrity
Without additional adaptation efforts, Minnesota is projected to face more than $20 billion in annual economic costs from climate change impacts by 2040 under a high-emissions scenario. ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf)) ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf)) ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf)) ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf)) ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf)) ([Minnesota Pollution Control Agency](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf))
Minnesota Climate Adaptation and Resilience Cost Study — Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
📌 Key Facts
- DOJ filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to block Minnesota’s 2020 climate deception suit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, Flint Hills Resources and the American Petroleum Institute.
- Minnesota’s case alleges the oil industry funded misleading ads, outside organizations and scientists to downplay climate risks to consumers and the public.
- On April 15 the Minnesota Supreme Court denied oil‑industry petitions to dismiss, clearing the state case to enter discovery before DOJ stepped in.
- DOJ argues Minnesota’s lawsuit unlawfully intrudes on federal authority to regulate greenhouse‑gas emissions; Ellison calls the DOJ action frivolous and vows to move for dismissal immediately.
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