"Exxon Wins Latest Legal Round in Climate Fight With Mass. AG"

"In virtually unprecedented ruling, federal judge in Texas says Massachusetts AG Maura Healey must answer questions about her climate investigation to Exxon lawyers."

"A federal judge reaffirmed an order that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey must submit to questioning by lawyers for ExxonMobil over her investigation of the oil industry giant.

U.S. District Court Judge Ed Kinkeade on Monday rejected Healey's motion to cancel a deposition he had previously ordered, a virtually unprecedented decision that could expose the investigative tactics of a law enforcement agency to its target.

Kinkeade has ordered Healey to answer Exxon's questions in a Dallas courtroom deposition Dec. 13. The mandate is part of a sweeping discovery order issued by the judge in October that also could open the door for Exxon to plow through Healey's internal records related to her investigation."

David Hasemyer reports for InsideClimate News December 7, 2016.