An Alaska environmentalist is accusing the Walker administration and a former Attorney General of trying to protect Exxon from lawsuits over climate change.

Rick Steiner with the group Oasis Earth said he obtained a letter signed last month by the Attorneys General of 13 states, including previous Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards. The letter urges an end to lawsuits that claim Exxon committed fraud by concealing its scientific knowledge about the impacts of climate changes.

"It is outrageous that the State of Alaska, which is ‘ground zero’ for the impacts of climate change and a significant victim of climate science dishonesty by Exxon and other fossil fuel companies, is asking other states to drop this fraud investigation,” Steiner wrote in an email.

The letter in question voices concern over another coalition of Attorneys General from several states known as the “AGs United for Clean Power,” which held a press conference recently to highlight an investigation into “whether fossil fuel companies misled investors and the public on the impact of climate change on their businesses.” The investigation resulted in legal action against at least two groups, according to the letter.

“We are concerned that our colleagues’ investigation undermines the trust the people have invested in Attorneys General to investigate fraud,” the letter reads. “Investigatory subpoenas were issued to at least one company and one non-profit believed to have made statements minimizing the risks of climate change.”

“We think this effort by our colleagues to police the global warming debate through the power of the subpoena is a grave mistake,” the letter goes on.

Department of Law spokeswoman Cori Mills defended the letter, saying that it aims to maintain the neutrality of AGs when it comes to the climate change debate.

“The letter referenced by Mr. Steiner focuses on the investigatory powers of the Attorney General and when it is appropriate to use investigatory power,” Mills said, pointing out a section of the letter that reads, in part, “Actions indicating that one side of the climate change debate should fear prosecution chlls speech in violation of a formerly bi-partisan First Amendment consensus.”

Grace Jang, a spokeswoman for the Governor’s office, said the Exxon allegation from Steiner is baseless.

Meanwhile, Steiner has called on newly-appointed Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth to rescind Craig Richards’ signature from the letter.

"While admitting they don't know the accuracy of the charges against Exxon, the signatories then argue the investigation into such should be ended. Apparently, Alaska and other state signatories do not wish to know the truth on this matter," Steiner said. "The letter also clumsily attempts to create an equivalency between possible misstatements 'on both sides' of the climate debate. Their allegation is entirely unsupported."