Massachusetts Representatives McGovern and Pressley urge President Biden to pardon environmental attorney who stood up against Big Oil

Massachusetts U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern is leading an effort to convince President Joe Biden to pardon environmental attorney Steven Donziger, who spent nearly three years under house arrest on a contempt charge. Donziger had won a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron for environmental damage in Ecuador. McGovern, along with other lawmakers, wrote a letter to Biden urging him to use his clemency powers to help Donziger, who was harshly punished for refusing to turn over access to his computer and online accounts to Chevron. The case was prosecuted by a firm with ties to Chevron, and Donziger was denied a jury trial. The lawmakers are concerned about the impact of this case on advocates working for marginalized communities and the message it sends about corporate interests overpowering legal representation. They believe that pardoning Donziger would send a strong message to corporations that they cannot intimidate lawyers and advocates working for the public good. Biden, who had previously said he would not grant pardons or commutations, is facing pressure to reconsider his stance as his term comes to an end. Earlier, lawmakers had also called on Biden to commute the sentences of those on federal death row.

Source
Photo credit www.masslive.com