Jeffrey Zients and Anita Dunn must start behaving like competent political operatives and lead the Biden Administration to condemn Scott Sheffield daily.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kenny Stancil, [email protected]
It’s been well over a week since the Federal Trade Commission revealed evidence that ex-Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield colluded with U.S. drillers and OPEC officials to constrain the global supply of oil, which ultimately increased gasoline prices and boosted fossil fuel industry profits at the expense of working households. Still, President Joe Biden continues to remain silent about Sheffield’s price-fixing conspiracy, even as Donald Trump’s campaign courts Big Oil donors with promises to reverse Biden’s climate and environmental policy rulemakings.
We echo consumer and climate advocates in demanding additional federal action, from congressional hearings to the criminal prosecution of Sheffield (the FTC reportedly plans to refer the matter to the Department of Justice), among other steps. In the meantime, Jeffrey Zients and Anita Dunn must start behaving like competent political operatives and lead the Biden Administration to condemn Sheffield daily.
“Biden’s ongoing silence on the oil price-fixing conspiracy led by Scott Sheffield is inexplicable and inexcusable. Voter anger over inflation has been one of the toughest challenges of his first term, and it remains a threat to his chances in November,” said Revolving Door Project Senior Researcher Kenny Stancil. “White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and senior adviser Anita Dunn have a chance to save Biden’s presidency and propel his anemic reelection campaign—if only they can find the courage to attack a Republican fracking titan who conspired with domestic and foreign oil producers to steal thousands of dollars from the average American consumer.”
“We now have text messages exposing the willingness of Sheffield and other oil executives to line their pockets while blaming pain at the pump on Biden’s green policies,” Stancil added. “Sheffield, who just received a $68 million severance package from Pioneer, personifies the corporate greed underlying recent cost-of-living struggles. Biden should vilify him accordingly to demonstrate to working people, who strongly distrust Big Oil, that he is on their side.”
“Donald Trump recently asked the country’s top oil bosses to donate $1 billion to put him back in the White House, where he will gladly sign executive orders authored by them,” said Revolving Door Project Executive Director Jeff Hauser. “It’s unlikely that the quid pro quo Trump is offering is limited to rolling back Biden’s policies on clean energy, electric vehicles, and other green initiatives loathed by the fossil fuel industry. Because Trump is allied with Big Oil players and Saudi autocrats, all of whom benefited from the collusion Sheffield orchestrated, I suspect it’s understood that he’ll turn a blind eye to continued price-fixing.”
“The Biden White House’s ongoing silence speaks volumes about what happens when corporate revolvers like Jeffrey Zients and Anita Dunn determine the daily message. We need Zients and Dunn to go against their past tendencies and seize this perfect opportunity to aggressively crack down on corporate villains who routinely exploit Americans,” Hauser concluded.
For more on this subject, check out these recent pieces we’ve published or contributed research or thoughts to:
- The Pro-Fossil Fuel Lawmakers and Regulators Bankrolled by Scott Sheffield, Fracking CEO Behind Oil Price-Fixing Conspiracy
- Biden Can Run & Win on Big Oil GOP Donors Colluding to Raise Gas Prices
- The Mega-Donor Who Colluded With OPEC
The above photo of White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and President Joe Biden is in the public domain.