Koch Industries says press release on climate change is phony
by Andrew Restuccia, E² Wire, The Hill, December 10, 2010
Koch Industries said Friday it is not affiliated with a press release announcing the company's intentions to stop all donations to organizations that have raised questions about climate science or otherwise lobbied against efforts to pass a climate bill.
In recent months, Koch Industries has been criticized by environmentalists for its donations to groups that lobbied heavily to block climate legislation. An August New Yorker story detailed the spending of the corporation, owned by David and Charles Koch. A May report by the environmental group Greenpeace detailed the Koch’s climate-related spending.
Koch spokeswoman Katie Stavinoha told The Hill on Friday she did not know where the press release came from, adding, “It’s not affiliated with Koch Industries.” The press release surfaced on what appears to be a fake version of the actual Koch Industries website. The fake site is nearly an exact replica of the actual Koch website, with the exception of the fake press release.
In recent months, Koch Industries has been criticized by environmentalists for its donations to groups that lobbied heavily to block climate legislation. An August New Yorker story detailed the spending of the corporation, owned by David and Charles Koch. A May report by the environmental group Greenpeace detailed the Koch’s climate-related spending.
Koch spokeswoman Katie Stavinoha told The Hill on Friday she did not know where the press release came from, adding, “It’s not affiliated with Koch Industries.” The press release surfaced on what appears to be a fake version of the actual Koch Industries website. The fake site is nearly an exact replica of the actual Koch website, with the exception of the fake press release.
A call to the press contact on the fake press release went straight to voicemail and an e-mail was returned with the following message:
“Thank you for your message. Do to the large volume of email received at this address, we may not respond to every message. If you have not already, please reply with your contact information. We will respond to all relevant messages as soon as possible.
“If you are contacting us about today's press release on new environmental commitments, further information will be provided at a later date.”
The fake press release said Koch Industries had conducted an internal review on climate change and decided that its “best course forward includes a discontinuation of funding for these organizations, and organizations like them, whose positions on climate change could jeopardize America’s continued global competitiveness in the energy and chemical sectors and Koch Industries’ ability to provide high-quality products and services to the American people.”
“Thank you for your message. Do to the large volume of email received at this address, we may not respond to every message. If you have not already, please reply with your contact information. We will respond to all relevant messages as soon as possible.
“If you are contacting us about today's press release on new environmental commitments, further information will be provided at a later date.”
The fake press release said Koch Industries had conducted an internal review on climate change and decided that its “best course forward includes a discontinuation of funding for these organizations, and organizations like them, whose positions on climate change could jeopardize America’s continued global competitiveness in the energy and chemical sectors and Koch Industries’ ability to provide high-quality products and services to the American people.”
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