THE FRONT PORCH: Are environmental groups being targeted for speaking out?

By Dakota Baker, RealWV

Recently, West Virginia Attorney General, J.B. McCuskey launched an investigation into many of the state’s environmental groups — demanding a decade of internal records related to fundraising and climate change advocacy, and claiming to be searching for “alleged unfair or deceptive acts.”

McCuskey accused the environmental groups of using incorrect climate data when asking for donations. The environmental groups claim this is a violation of their right to free speech. 

According to a Facebook post made by Alt National Park Service, “Now West Virginia Rivers Coalition and 350.org are suing, saying the investigation is retaliation for their advocacy. WV Rivers says it has already slowed projects over fears that community partners could be targeted. People should be able to speak up for clean water and public lands without worrying about an attorney general coming after them.”

As of Thursday, Oct. 29, a federal judge had granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the attorney general from moving forward with the investigation into these environmental groups over climate change claims. 

Judge Joseph Goodwin agreed with the environmental groups, stating, “The First Amendment forbids a state from using its investigative power that way, and I will not allow it.”

With the Trump administration scaling back protections on millions of acres of public lands within the last year, what does this ruling mean for the future of environmental advocacy in West Virginia, and will it protect other organizations that speak out against threats to public lands and clean water?