Energy Secretary Referred for Criminal Prosecution Over Alleged Perjury
Washington, Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
House Democrats referred Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Justice Department, citing court documents where department lawyers admitted $7.6 billion in energy grants were canceled solely for political reasons.
Democrats Refer Energy Secretary to DOJ Over Perjury Allegations
On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, two House Democrats formally referred U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution [1][3]. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) submitted a letter accusing Wright of lying to Congress regarding the administration’s handling of green energy grants [1][2]. The lawmakers allege Wright violated 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which prohibits making materially false statements to Congress [1][3]. This referral escalates tensions following previous revelations that the Energy Department stripped over $7.5 billion in clean energy grants based on state politics [3]. As previously reported, court filings indicated that the inclusion of grants in the October 2025 notice tranche was based solely on the political identity of the recipient’s state [3].
Discrepancy in Testimony and Court Filings
During a House Committee on Science, Space and Technology hearing on June 10, 2026, Secretary Wright testified that the Department of Energy did not target states for funding cuts based on political affiliation [2][3]. However, Department of Energy attorneys had signed a formal stipulation on May 15, 2026, admitting the terminations were based on whether the recipient’s location was in a Blue State or non-Blue State [3]. This stipulation was filed to the court docket on July 15, 2026, weeks after Wright’s testimony [3]. The lawmakers argue that Wright either knowingly made false statements or remained deliberately ignorant to satisfy the legal element of perjury [3]. In their letter, Lofgren and Amo stated, “Secretary Wright lied to the Committee with his statements, which sought to prevent us from learning the truth” [1][3]. They emphasized that referring a Cabinet Secretary for prosecution is a weighty assertion not taken lightly [2][3].
Administration Denials and Political Context
Despite the referral, an Energy Department spokesperson rejected the allegations on Wednesday, stating, “The Secretary’s statements in his testimony are correct” [1][2]. The spokesperson maintained that none of the termination decisions were based on political considerations, echoing Wright’s previous public denials [1][3]. Wright himself had previously described the allegations of political motivation as “bulls—“ during public appearances [3]. The canceled grants totaled approximately $7.6 billion across 16 states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election [2][3]. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought had previously praised the move as cutting “Green New Scam funding to fuel the Left’s climate agenda” [1][3]. The targeted states included California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, among others [1][3].
Legal and Economic Implications
The referral requests that the Justice Department conduct an expeditious review to determine if criminal charges are warranted [3]. This development creates regulatory uncertainty for clean energy firms reliant on federal funding programs [1][2]. Investors and industry stakeholders now face a landscape where federal support may be influenced by partisan identity rather than performance metrics [2][3]. The committee formally requested that the DOJ review the evidence to see if criminal charges are warranted [3]. This action underscores the high stakes involved in federal energy policy and congressional oversight [1][3].