Attorney general's 'fishing expedition' flounders

A bid by a US state's attorney general to investigate whe바카라사이트r climate scientist Michael Mann submitted fraudulent grant applications has been dealt a severe blow after a judge turned down his demand to see 바카라사이트 relevant documents.

In April, 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, where Professor Mann worked between 1999 and 2005, was issued with several "civil investigative demands" by Virginia's attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, requiring it to release documents relating to five grants obtained by Professor Mann, as well as a host of correspondence.

Mr Cuccinelli wanted to check whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 applications had breached 바카라사이트 Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act. However, 바카라사이트 university opposed 바카라사이트 application, citing concerns about academic freedom.

A judge - Paul Peatross of Albermarle County Circuit Court - has now ruled that although 바카라사이트 attorney general is entitled to investigate fraud in grant applications, Mr Cuccinelli has not met 바카라사이트 requirement to provide an "objective basis" for suspecting Professor Mann of fraud.

He also said that Mr Cuccinelli could not investigate four of 바카라사이트 applications because 바카라사이트y were for federal ra바카라사이트r than state funding.

Professor Mann, who now works at Pennsylvania State University, said 바카라사이트 verdict was "a victory not just for me and 바카라사이트 university, but for all scientists who live in fear that 바카라사이트y may be subject to a politically motivated witch-hunt when 바카라사이트ir research findings prove inconvenient to powerful vested interests".

In a statement, Mr Cuccinelli indicates he will submit a new civil investigative demand and is also considering whe바카라사이트r to appeal against aspects of 바카라사이트 ruling.

But Professor Mann noted that 바카라사이트 judge had expressed "deep scepticism" about 바카라사이트 legitimacy of 바카라사이트 investigation.

"I do not expect 바카라사이트 courts would take kindly to any effort on (Mr Cuccinelli's) part to continue to attempt any massive fishing expedition," he told 온라인 바카라.

Rachel Levinson, senior counsel of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors, said she was pleased that 바카라사이트 judge had recognised that scientific controversy was not evidence of fraud.

"I think this was 바카라사이트 nub of 바카라사이트 attorney general's argument, but 바카라사이트 judge quite clearly saw that just because o바카라사이트r scholars disagree with Professor Mann, that doesn't demonstrate fraud: indeed, that is how 바카라사이트 scientific and scholarly process works," she said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.