ExxonMobil is no longer playing nice – Rob Bonta should be worried – is Watt surprised?

It looks like ExxonMobil has finally had enough of California’s environmental clowning. In a move of epic proportions, ExxonMobil filed a defamation lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his activist associates, including the Sierra Club and other virtue organizations. Their crime? Their comments were allegedly baseless, self-serving and tarnished ExxonMobil's reputation.

Let's set the stage. Bonta has been an aspiring political showman who has targeted Exxon Mobil and other oil companies for years. In 2022, he subpoenaed ExxonMobil as part of a fight against what he called the “global plastic crisis.” By 2024, he was upping the ante, accusing the company of a “decades-long campaign of deception” in plastic recycling. According to Bonta, ExxonMobil has been lying to the public and promoting the “myth” of recycling while making billions of dollars and polluting the planet. Oh, the horror.

But here's the thing: ExxonMobil hasn't turned around. This was not a hype campaign or a weak press release designed to appease the mob. No, Exxon took off his gloves and headed straight to the federal courthouse in Beaumont, Texas. Why Texas? Because they know not to trust the California courts, which are as friendly to oil companies as PETA is to steakhouses. The lawsuit exposes Bonta and his friends for what they really are: political opportunists running a “deliberate smear campaign” under the guise of environmentalism.

Expose the hypocrisy of greenwashing

ExxonMobil's lawsuit points out the irony of Bonta's allegations, calling his campaign “reverse greenwashing.” While these so-called environmentalists make swaggering claims of moral superiority, they are actually undermining legitimate recycling efforts and stifling innovation. for what? Political points and donations. The lawsuit even suggests that Bonta's antics were less about protecting the planet and more about padding his resume for his inevitable run for higher office.

Let’s also not forget the hypocrisy of California’s own policies. The country charges a recycling fee for every plastic bottle you buy, but most plastic ends up in overseas dumps, contributing to the pollution crisis they claim to be fighting. If anyone is running a scam here, it's California.

Michegos has had enough

You can tell Attorney General Bonta was caught off guard,” environmental lawyer Leonard Gleeson explained to the Globe on Monday. “Usually, with defamation suits like this, they respond quickly. But not here.

“This is weird. ExxonMobil, along with other big oil companies, have been increasingly going after environmentalists. ExxonMobil's response to the lawsuit in September showed that they've had enough of this evil. They have had enough. Too much is being assumed here, as evidenced by this suit, and we'll see exactly what kind of legal battle we'll face when they do. Oil companies don't usually respond this way.

ExxonMobil Sues Calif. AG Rob Bonta, Environmental Groups Over Defamation

ExxonMobil's legal action is as much a statement as it is a defense. For years, Bonta and his associates have used oil companies as scapegoats for a variety of environmental problems. Now, Exxon is saying, “Not today, Rob. Not today.” This lawsuit is likely to expose the shaky foundations of Bonta's entire crusade.

The company seeks damages and a full retraction of the defamatory statements. In other words, they don't just play to win, they also play to embarrass their opponents. While Bonta's office has yet to respond, it's safe to say the pressure is on. After all, defamation cases require evidence, not just political intimidation.

The bigger picture

This isn't just an Exxon thing. It’s about pushing back against wider climate hysteria and the politicians who exploit it to gain power. Despite its noble rhetoric, the environmental movement has become a religion—a dogma enforced by intimidation and pseudoscience. ExxonMobil's lawsuit may be just the first step in holding these fanatics accountable.

It’s time someone stood up to these eco-bullies. Bonta and his allies are quick to denigrate companies while conveniently ignoring the real-world benefits these companies provide, such as the affordable energy and materials that make modern life possible. Of course, there are problems with plastic. But if Bonta was serious about solutions, he would work with companies like ExxonMobil instead of slandering them in order to gain votes with transparency.

in conclusion

Now here we are: between Exxon Mobil and California and its self-righteous minions. It's a classic David versus Goliath story, except this time, David has billions in resources and a top-notch legal team. Rob Bonta, on the other hand, may want to rethink his career strategy. Because when the dust settles, the lawsuit could leave his political ambitions in the same state as California’s high-speed rail plan: derailed and going nowhere.

ExxonMobil's lawsuit is not only justified, it's a long overdue reckoning. Let’s see how Rob Bonta and his Green Army fare when forced to abide by actual rules of evidence and accountability. My guess? Not so good.

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