# What happened with those lying oil executives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377 "2006-01-24T12:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/1 "2006-01-24T12:53:32Z")
Back in November '05, when gas and energy prices were skyrocketing, Congress had executives from the major oil companies come in and answer questions about their record-breaking profits, among other things. A week later the Washington Times reported that all but one of them flatly lied to Congress and the American people about being on Dick Cheney’s secret energy task force. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501842.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501842.html) There was a minor flap; a few members of Congress made outraged noises demanding that the execs come back and explain themselves. Then the price of gas dropped back to pre-Katrina prices and the whole story evaporated, as far as I can tell. It is illegal to lie to Congress, even though these guys were pointedly not under oath at the time. Has anybody heard of anything coming of this? Were these people fired, fined, charged with anything, or are they still under investigation? Or did they just privately agree to stop ripping us all off so brazenly so the controversy could blow over? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/2 "2006-01-24T13:51:33Z")
Medals of Freedom? ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/3 "2006-01-24T18:47:22Z")
Bush is running the country. Cheney is helping him. Anyone suggesting the execs be placed under oath was damn near shot. In other words, nothing has happened to the execs, and nothing will. Actually, they may get raises for posting record profits. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/4 "2006-01-24T22:27:16Z")
\ I think this is better suited for GD, Let me move it for you. \ ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/5 "2006-01-25T00:12:24Z")
> [@XaMcQ](#): > > A week later the Washington Times reported that all but one of them flatly lied to Congress and the American people about being on Dick Cheney’s secret energy task force. [nitpick]I think you mean the Washington _Post_, at least that is what you linked to. (The Washington Times was presumably too busy publishing exposes claiming that Iraq’s WMD’s really existed or that the Bush Administration prevented many more hijackings of airplanes or some other such crap.) ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/6 "2006-01-25T02:06:13Z")
> [@](#): > > [nitpick]I think you mean the Washington Post, at least that is what you linked to. (The Washington Times was presumably too busy publishing exposes claiming that Iraq’s WMD’s really existed or that the Bush Administration prevented many more hijackings of airplanes or some other such crap.) Drat. It was early. I hadn’t had my coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/7 "2006-01-25T03:13:05Z")
Who was the chairman of the committee who flat-out refused Democratic requests to put the oil executives under oath, and how much did this chairman receive from the oil companies in campaign donations? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/8 "2006-01-25T03:38:41Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Who was the chairman of the committee who flat-out refused Democratic requests to put the oil executives under oath, and how much did this chairman receive from the oil companies in campaign donations? That would be Alaska’s [Ted Stevens, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/09/AR2005110902058_2.html), whose wallet is fairly dripping with oil money: > [@](#): > > When Energy Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska, $102,190) announced that he would not require the executives to give their testimony under oath, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash., $9,400) asked for a vote on the issue. Stevens shot back: “There will be no vote . . . It’s the decision of the chairman, and I have made that decision.” > > “I move that we swear in witnesses,” Cantwell persisted. > > “I second the motion,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif., $9,450). > > “That’s the last we’re going to hear about that, because it’s out of order,” a piqued Stevens replied. When the two women continued their protest, the chairman informed them that “I intend to be respectful of the position that these gentlemen hold.” > > Stevens did not fail in this goal. When Boxer later displayed a large chart showing the executives’ pay, Stevens cut her off. > > “We’ll stop the clock right here for you, Senator,” Stevens said, ordering the chart taken down because it was not “information that pertains to our issue.” > > From the audience, a woman called out: “How about the consumers?” When the same woman later let out a cheer, Stevens threatened to “clear the room.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/9 "2006-01-25T03:47:29Z")
> [@XaMcQ](#): > > It is illegal to lie to Congress, even though these guys were pointedly not under oath at the time. Are you sure? ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/10 "2006-01-25T04:17:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Are you sure? Yes. U.S. Code TITLE 18 \> PART I \> CHAPTER 47 \> § 1001 § 1001. Statements or entries generally (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully— (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding. (c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to— (1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or (2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/11 "2006-01-25T07:10:47Z")
Related comic: [_Non Sequiter,_ 1/15/2006](http://images.ucomics.com/comics/nq/2006/nq060115.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/12 "2006-01-25T07:26:05Z")
I was wondering the same thing as the OP. And gas prices are rising again – around $2.35 for regular unleaded here in Maryland, if I’m correct. Adam ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377/13 "2006-01-26T01:25:10Z")
Thanks for the info, **Fear**. I am not surprised that Senator Stevens (R - Bridge to Nowhere) was the chairman. What a tool.