Amid Battle With Exxon/Mobil, AG Healey Questions Choice of Tillerson as Next Secretary of State

Healey was a big supporter of Hillary Clinton

Locked in a nasty dispute with ExxonMobil, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says the appointment of CEO Rex Tillerson as the next secretary of state raises some serious questions. 

"There are some obvious ones about his experience, or lack of experience, to be the chief diplomat," Healey said. "I think also there are real questions and concerns about his relationship with Russia and with Vladimir Putin."

The Democratic attorney general spoke to the Taunton area Chamber of Commerce only hours after President-Elect Donald Trump formally announced his plans to nominate the oil company CEO to the top cabinet post. 

Healey was scheduled Tuesday morning to appear in a Texas courtroom to answer questions about her investigation of ExxonMobil. 

That hearing was canceled, but Healey is still looking for internal company records that may show ExxonMobil knew about the dangers of fossil fuels for years. The corporation is suing to stop her. 

"Instead of providing the information, all that Exxon has done is stick to squash this investigation by suing us," she said.

Healey was a big supporter of Hillary Clinton. She said the nomination of Rex Tillerson seems to be par for the course, given the president-elect's other appointments. 

"When you look at who he has nominated for the various positions, many of them have spent their entire careers or much of their careers looking to dismantle the very departments they are now nominated to head," Healey said.

Healey said she hopes all the president-elect's appointments get a thorough vetting. 

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