SEC Sidesteps Smith's Document Request, Declines to Confirm Exxon Probe

"Federal regulatory agency says investigations are not public unless it files charges, so it will not provide documents demanded by the House Science committee chair."

"The U.S. Securities and Exchange commission has declined to say whether it has opened an investigation into ExxonMobil, a position that appears to stymie a sweeping request by Rep. Lamar Smith for records related to a possible investigation of the oil giant by the federal regulatory agency.

SEC chair Mary Jo White wrote in a letter to Smith on Thursday that the commission 'generally does not acknowledge the existence or non-existence of an investigation,' and that investigations don't become public unless charges are filed.

'Accordingly, I cannot comment specially on the matter raised in your letter,' White wrote."

David Hasemyer reports for InsideClimate News October 14, 2016.