The appointment of Louisiana Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond to be a member of the White House staff for apparent President-elect Joe Biden is drawing criticism from environmentalists because he took campaign money from the oil and gas industry.
POLITICO reported Richmond has taken thousands of dollars from utility, oil and gas companies while representing energy-rich Louisiana and he was one of only a handful of Democrats who voted to support the Keystone XL pipeline.
Richmond is reported to be the fifth largest recipient of money from fossil fuel donors among House Democrats.
In the current campaign cycle, he received $112,000 from such contributors as Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Marathon Petroleum and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. He also received $55,000 from electric utilities, something that bothered the Sunrise Movement.
The group called it a “mistake” to name Richmond as a Senior Advisor to Biden and also director of the Office of Public Liaison because of his New Orleans’ history with oil and gas.
“Today feels like a betrayal,” said Varshini Prakash, co-founder and executive director for Sunrise. He also questioned the hiring in light of Biden’s vows to combat climate change and eventually eliminate the fossil fuel industry.
Richmond carries a lifetime score of 76 percent from the League of Conservation Voters , though his 2019 rating hit 93 percent after registering 46 percent in 2018.
