By: Jim Lakely

The University of East Anglia Wednesday released the results of its internal investigation into the scandal known as “Climategate” – the leaking of emails from the university’s climate change research center showing how scientists engaged in a conspiracy to fudge data so as to blame human activity for global warming, and to blackball any scientists who did not toe the alarmist line.

The investigation cleared university scientists of any wrong-doing, declaring: “Their rigor and honesty as scientists are not in doubt.” The report also noted, “we did not find any evidence of behavior that might undermine the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”

Jay Lehr, Ph.D., science director at the Chicago-based Heartland Institute, offered the following comments. You may quote from his statement below or contact him directly at jlehr@heartland.org or 740/368-9393.

“It is often said in politics that the coverup is worse than the crime. The so-called ‘Independent Climate Change Email Review’ headed by Sir Muir Russell is another attempt to ignore, deny, and excuse the misconduct of the East Anglia University Climate Research Unit and the cabal of crooked scientists who fed the global warming delusion. It is an even sadder commentary on science today than the actual collusion and fraud that was clearly perpetrated.

“The Russell report shows that in some places it is deemed business as usual for researchers to force their work in the direction they and their financial supporters desire. As recently as 50 years ago, such scientists would be blackballed for such conduct.

“The real result of all of this will not be a clean reputation for the East Anglia group and its cohorts elsewhere but rather a dramatically reduced faith on the part of the public in the important work of scientists throughout the world.”