Member of ExxonMobil advisory panel sends scathing resignation letter
A member of ExxonMobil’s External Citizenship Advisory Panel wrote a scathing letter this week declaring her resignation from the panel advising the company that until recently was headed by newly sworn-in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. In the letter,...first reported by Motherboard...Sarah Labowitz said she is “particularly concerned about the company’s targeted attack on respected civil society organizations through the courts.” Just last week, ExxonMobil filed another brief in a federal Texas court “advancing an argument that everyday aspects of civil society advocacy with public officials should be treated as an illegal conspiracy,” said Labowitz,...co-director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at the NYU Stern School of Business. “The brief argues that having a private meeting, conducting a workshop, publishing a report, or advocating that a public official take action are all elements of what you deem an illegal ‘conspiracy,’” she said in the Monday letter, addressed to Ben Soraci...general manager of Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil. “Many companies face criticism and critique, but few respond with the kind of vehemence and aggressive attack strategy that Exxon has executed over the last year,” Labowitz said.
William Holbrook, a corporate media relations senior advisor at Exxon Mobil Corporation, told CBS News Thursday: “We regret that she has resigned but respectfully disagree with some of the comments made in her letter.” “We have never characterized any action by civil society representatives as illegal,” Holbrook said. “...We did not start this, but will vigorously defend ourselves against false allegations and mischaracterizations of our climate research and investor communications.”