Exxon lobbyist investigated over hack-and-leak of environmentalist emails, sources say

The FBI has been investigating a longtime Exxon Mobil consultant's alleged role in a hack-and-leak operation that targeted hundreds of the oil company’s biggest critics.

The operation involved mercenary hackers who successfully breached the email accounts of environmental activists and others, the sources told Reuters .

Some environmental activists interviewed by Reuters say the hacking operation disrupted preparations for lawsuits by cities and state attorneys general against Exxon and other energy companies.

Ex-employees say Exxon was long one of DCI ’s biggest sources of revenue.

Lobbying work for Exxon earned DCI at least $3 million between 2005 and 2016 .

DCI 's staff kept track of social media chatter around the ExxonKnew campaign as well as moves made by state attorneys general.

The memo or other hacked documents were also cited in court filings by Exxon against attorneys general in Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands .

On Tuesday , Maine became the ninth state to file a lawsuit accusing oil companies of deceiving the public about climate change.

Pawa said the industry has continued to invoke the hacked files in its effort to push back.