Climategate-inspired fraud probe kicks up storm

A row over academic freedom has broken out in 바카라사이트 US over a state attorney general's demands that a university release documents relating to research-grant applications.

Ken Cuccinelli, attorney general of Virginia, issued a "civil investigative demand" to 바카라사이트 University of Virginia last month demanding documents relating to grants obtained by climate scientist Michael Mann.

Mr Cuccinelli is investigating possible violations of 바카라사이트 Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act in relation to five research grants obtained by Professor Mann, who left Virginia in 2005 and is now based at Pennsylvania State University.

In defence of 바카라사이트 move, Brian Gottstein, Mr Cuccinelli's spokesman, cited 바카라사이트 controversy caused by 바카라사이트 distribution of documents that were leaked or stolen from 바카라사이트 Climatic Research Unit at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia last year.

"Climategate indicates that some climate data may have been deliberately manipulated to arrive at pre-set conclusions," he said.

"The use of manipulated data to apply for taxpayer-funded research grants in Virginia is potentially fraud. The only prudent thing to do was to look into it."

In February, Mr Cuccinelli sought judicial review of 바카라사이트 US Environmental Protection Agency's finding that greenhouse-gas emissions pose a threat to public welfare.

Rachel Levinson Waldman, senior counsel at 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors, accused Mr Cuccinelli of attacking academic freedom.

"The breadth of 바카라사이트 request suggests that it is meant to intimidate faculty members and discourage 바카라사이트m from pursuing politically controversial work; it's a shot across 바카라사이트 bow," she said.

"(This) injection of politics into 바카라사이트 academic arena is ... counter not only to 바카라사이트 interests of scholars in climate science, but also to 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 state's flagship institution in academic excellence."

Kent Willis, executive director of 바카라사이트 American Civil Liberties Union for Virginia, warned that if 바카라사이트 institution were to "roll over", it "could chill university-based scientific inquiry". The university is considering its options.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.