Chevron sought to open an investigation yesterday into New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, claiming he pressured the oil company to settle environmental litigation in Ecuador in exchange for campaign contributions from supporters of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs.
Chevron filed a complaint before the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, seeking a probe of DiNapoli and current and past members of his staff.
Chevron said the plaintiffs’ supporters have contributed more than $60,000 to DiNapoli’s campaign, as well as “other political benefits.”
The complaint itself alleges that Steven Donziger, the plaintiffs’ US legal adviser, and his associates wooed DiNapoli into applying pressure on Chevron through campaign donations and an offer to meet with the rock musician Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler.
DiNapoli oversees the New York State Common Retirement Fund, which owns more than $800 million of Chevron stock, the company said, citing Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
“This is a baseless attempt by big oil to intimidate me,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “The allegations are without merit.”