State Attorneys General and Campaign Conduct

A federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas has ruled that California Attorney General Rob Bonta can be sued for defamation in his personal capacity over a campaign email accusing ExxonMobil of lying about plastics recycling, rejecting his claim of official immunity for that communication. Judge Michael J. Truncale found that a fundraising link and political framing in the email—sent to Texas residents and declaring 'Exxon Mobil knew, and Exxon Mobil lied' while asserting only about 5% of plastic is recycled—made it a campaign activity outside the scope of Bonta’s duties as attorney general. The ruling allows Exxon’s suit to move forward against Bonta while dismissing claims against environmental groups, after Bonta previously sued Exxon in 2024 alleging the company misled consumers about plastics’ recyclability and Exxon countered that California’s system, not its technology, is to blame. Exxon says Bonta’s comments have harmed current and future contracts in its advanced recycling business and calls his statements part of a 'campaign of lies' designed to derail that line of work. The case highlights an increasingly aggressive legal front in the fight over corporate climate and plastics messaging, and raises the stakes for how partisan fund‑raising rhetoric about ongoing litigation can expose top state officials to personal liability.