Republicans want probe over possible Russian funding of environmental groups

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Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin is among Republicans on a House committee who want certain environmental groups to reveal their ties to a group that was reportedly used by Russia’s Vladimir Putin to affect US energy production.

He and others on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a  letter to the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council inquiring about their connections to the San Francisco-based NGO environmental organization named the Sea Change Foundation.

The letter suggested that the Sea Change might be a conduit for Russian funding. The three environmental groups have received funding from Sea Change since 2006. But they also deny the allegations made by the GOP members of the House committee.

The letter pointed to claims by former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of “phony environmental groups” funded by Russia “to stand against any effort” by the United States to develop hydraulic fracturing for production of natural gas.

Fox News Digital reported the NRDC called the allegations “false” and “rooted in a smear campaign” orchestrated a decade ago by fossil fuel interests and a right-wing think tank.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference with Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe at Government buildings in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 1, 2021. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne <span class="copyright">REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne</span>

Indiana Congressman Jim Banks who heads the Republic Study Committee has also called on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to start an investigation whether Russia has secretly funded green groups and their anti-oil and gas production in the U.S.  He too raised the claim that the Sea Change Foundation was funneling Russian money to the three environmental groups.