One of Joe Biden’s latest federal judge nominees has environmental activists questioning the Democrat’s connections to Big Oil.
US President Joe Biden nominated a list of judges last week, and one of the nominees has particularly stood out due to her history with the Republican Party, including Donald Trump, and her involvement in a lawsuit by Chevron against environmental and human rights lawyer Steven Donziger.
“Outraged to learn that Biden has named Chevron lawyer Jennifer Rearden to be a federal judge,” Donziger tweeted last Thursday, January 20, in reaction to the nomination, highlighting Rearden’s work with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP on behalf of oil giant Chevron, and stating that she helped “jail [him], attack Indigenous peoples, and cover up a massive oil spill in the Amazon.”
“Biden must align with Planet Earth. Corrupt,” Donziger added.
BREAKING: Outraged to learn that Biden has named @Chevron lawyer Jennifer Rearden to be a federal judge. She was paid millions at @gibsondunn to help jail me, attack Indigenous peoples, and cover up a massive oil spill in the Amazon.
Biden must align with Planet Earth. Corrupt. pic.twitter.com/Tm0JhHOOe4
— Steven Donziger (@SDonziger) January 20, 2022
Donziger was one of the lawyers behind a 2011 ruling of over $9 billion against Chevron in an Ecuadorian court, where the oil company was accused of causing massive pollution damage that greatly affected parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon and the indigenous communities of the region. However, Chevron refused to pay the damages, rejected the verdict and even questioned the legitimacy of the judicial process, claimed treaty violations, and alleged misconduct by Donziger who represented the indigenous communities. Three years later, the oil multinational found support from a US federal court, which blocked the money from being collected. Chevron also filed a lawsuit against the government of Ecuador for trying to collect the damages by confiscation of the company’s asstes in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the US.
The US court that gave the favorable verdict for Chevron also declared Donziger guilty of professional misconduct, and disbarred him. On October 1 last year, he was sentenced to six months in prison on a contempt of court charge, in a case littered with irregularities and violations of his rights. At that time, he was already under a court-imposed detention for 787 days.
He has denied all charges against him, and environmental activists continue to call for his release, blasting the legal campaign against him as politically motivated. Donziger has been in what he calls “illegal detention” since August 2019.
Thanks @SusanSarandon for your unrelenting leadership in demanding justice for Ecuador and my immediate release after 900 days of illegal detention. https://t.co/13hw4pCPYW https://t.co/jazpnQIp2K
— Steven Donziger (@SDonziger) January 21, 2022
Environmental activist Stella Sage — who wrote me inspiring letters from Germany when I was in prison — just posted this note of support. Asking everyone to do a similar post to mark my 900th day of illegal detention. https://t.co/13hw4pCPYW pic.twitter.com/DXYo5zvBld
— Steven Donziger (@SDonziger) January 21, 2022
Fossil Free Media founder Jamie Henn called Rearden’s nomination “atrocious.”
It’s atrocious. The crew at @Ls4Ca has been going after Gibson Dunn and I bet they have ideas!
— Jamie Henn (@jamieclimate) January 21, 2022
Others reacted with disbelief upon learning that Rearden was previously nominated to serve as a federal judge in the Southern District of New York by none other than Trump. She was one of dozens of nominees to not receive a Senate confirmation vote. Rearden’s nomination was pushed in part by Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), according to a report from The Intercept.
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Reason #1,457,238 of why we have to burn it all down. https://t.co/WtEqSSffMV
— Alexandria Villaseñor (@AlexandriaV2005) January 21, 2022
What’s up with Biden??? https://t.co/UmvoSTFpym
— Brandi Morin (@Songstress28) January 21, 2022
Joe Biden nominated Jennifer Rearden to be a federal judge. Rearden is a Trump appointee who donates to GOP politicians and represented Chevron in a super corrupt case against Steven Donziger. @POTUS should withdraw his nomination and pick someone the American people can trust.
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) January 21, 2022
Rearden has been a donor to Gillibrand in the past, but also numerous Republican politicians, including giving $2,300 to former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani during his unsuccessful run for president in 2008.
Featured image: Environmental and human rights lawyer Steve Donziger addresses media and supporters after receiving a six-month prison sentence in Chevron’s lawfare case against him, on October 1, 2021. Photo: Twitter / @SDonziger
(RT) with Orinoco Tribune content
