Who gets jailed for climate crimes?
by Emily Atkin and Arielle Samuelson, Heated
We can learn a lot about a society from who it chooses to jail during a planetary emergency, and who it allows to walk free.
Take, for example, some of the people who have been recently arrested for protesting environmental injustice—and compare them to the people who haven’t been arrested in one of the most egregious anti-climate corruption cases of the decade.
Last month, Ohio’s former Speaker of the House Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison for accepting $61 million in bribes from the electric utility FirstEnergy in exchange for passing HB6, one of the worst anti-climate laws in the nation.
Charles Jones, FirstEnergy’s former CEO, was revealed to be the architect of the plan when lawyers for FirstEnergy said Jones and a colleague “devised and orchestrated FirstEnergy’s payments to public officials in exchange for favorable legislation and regulatory action.” Jones hasn’t been charged with any crimes.
Recent Posts
Insurgent Candidate Victories Highlight Growing Movement Against Corporate & Elite Power: John Nichols
Take Action Now We continue to look at the results of those primary elections, with The Nation’s John Nichols calling it “a very good night for…
The Democratic party chair is a handy scapegoat. But the party’s problems are much bigger
Take Action Now Much of the criticism of Ken Martin is deserved. But his actions are symptomatic of a party that fails to listen to the grassroots…
From El Paso to ICE: When Anti-Immigrant Hate Becomes Government Policy
Take Action Now Is there a difference between trying to kill us and not caring if we live or die?By Unai Montes-Irueste, LA Progressive On August…
Thin-Skinned and Heavy Handed, The Trump Hypocrites like Marco “McCarthy” Rubio Are Wrong Again—on Cuba and Where “Terrorism” is Coming From
Take Action Now Those Who Challenge and Protest U.S. Policies Are Not Terrorists, and They Are Certainly NOT Paid By Other GovernmentsBy Former…