GOP states sue ESG 'cartel': BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street accused of manipulating energy market



A coalition of 11 Republican-led states filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and State Street Corporation, accusing the three asset managers of violating antitrust laws.

According to the complaint, the companies' promotion of environmental, social, and governance standards resulted in less coal production and higher energy prices.

Companies 'formed a cartel to rig the coal market.'

The lawsuit stated that the financial institutions "artificially constrained the supply of coal, significantly diminished competition in the markets for coal, increased energy prices for American consumers, and produced cartel-level profits" for themselves by leveraging their power.

Reuters reported that the three financial institutions have more than $26 trillion in assets under their management.

The companies have pressured coal companies to reduce their carbon emission by more than 50% by 2030, the complaint noted.

"Competitive markets — not the dictates of far-flung asset managers — should determine the price Americans pay for electricity," it read.

The coalition of states — including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Wyoming — was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

Paxton accused the asset managers of "illegally conspiring to manipulate energy markets."

"These firms also deceived thousands of investors who elected to invest in non-ESG funds to maximize their profits. Yet these funds pursued ESG strategies notwithstanding the defendants' representations to the contrary," he claimed.

The lawsuit accused BlackRock of "actively deceiving investors about the nature of its funds" by using all of its holdings, even those in non-ESG funds, to advance its climate goals.

Paxton told Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk that the reduced coal production forces the U.S. to purchase more energy overseas.

"It's affecting consumers in all kinds of ways," he said.

Paxton wrote in a post on X, "Texas will not tolerate the illegal weaponization of the financial industry in service of a destructive, politicized 'environmental' agenda. BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street formed a cartel to rig the coal market, artificially reduce the energy supply, and raise prices. Their conspiracy has harmed American energy production and hurt consumers. This is a stunning violation of State and federal law."

BlackRock said in a statement to Bloomberg that the lawsuit "undermines Texas' pro-business reputation."

"The suggestion that BlackRock invested money in companies with the goal of harming those companies is baseless and defies common sense," the company said.

Vanguard Group and State Street Corporation did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters or Bloomberg.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Cause of death revealed for 2 moms found in freezer in cow pasture; 5 members of 'God's Misfits' group charged with murder



Two Kansas mothers were found dead inside a chest freezer in a cow pasture in rural Oklahoma in April.

Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, went on a road trip to Oklahoma earlier this year. However, they went missing March 30 after driving to the Oklahoma panhandle to pick up Butler's children — ages 6 and 8. They didn't make it that far.

The group's initial plan was to 'throw an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off work vehicles.'

Authorities found their car abandoned near the Oklahoma-Kansas border.

Law enforcement suspected foul play after allegedly finding "evidence of a severe injury" and several puddles of blood near the abandoned vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle.

On April 13, investigators discovered Butler and Kelley's remains inside a chest freezer that had been buried in a cow pasture, according to affidavits. The freezer reportedly was inside a hole filled with dirt and concrete.

The Daily Mail reported that the mothers were found dead in "pools of blood" inside the freezer.

Investigators discovered that the farming property had ties to the grandmother of one of the women's children, court documents say.

The property owner told authorities that 43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum — who reportedly rented time on the cow pasture for cattle grazing — asked him on March 28 "if he could cut a tree down, remove a stump, [and] bury some concrete" in an area below the dam where a concrete pile had been sitting above ground. The property owner said Cullum completed the project in the next day or two.

Cullum was the boyfriend of 54-year-old Tifany Adams — the paternal grandmother of Butler's children.

Court records revealed that Adams' son — Wrangler Rickman — had been in a custody battle with Butler over their children. The couple also allegedly were going through a divorce. At the time, Rickman reportedly was in an Oklahoma rehabilitation center.

The Daily Mail reported that Butler had court-mandated, supervised visits every Saturday with her children, and Kelley was one of four people listed to supervise the visits.

The outlet added that Butler filed a petition in court March 20 that would grant her more time with her children, with her goal being receiving full custody.

“Adams hated and despised Butler and wanted her dead,” court documents said.

In April, Callum, Adams, 31-year-old Paul Grice, 44-year-old Cora Twombly, and 50-year-old Cole Twombly were arrested in connection with the deaths of the two mothers.

All five suspects are facing two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree.

The filing said Adams allegedly purchased three burner phones, stun devices, yellow straps found around the freezer, and the pants that Cullum wore and buried with the victims.

CNN reported that Cora Twombly told her 16-year-old daughter that she was going on a “mission" with Cole Twombly, the girl's stepfather. The teen said her mother and stepfather told her they would "not have to worry about [Butler] again," according to Fox News.

The group's initial plan was to "throw an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off work vehicles," Cora Twombly allegedly told her daughter.

'God’s Misfits is about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, not about hate and murder.'

Citing court documents, KSNT-TV reported that the Twomblys "served as lookouts on the day of the murder."

Court documents accuse Grice of stabbing Butler to death while Cullum allegedly killed Kelley — the wife of a pastor.

Grice severely cut his hand in the process of killing Butler, the documents state.

Grice reportedly tossed a stun device and the murder weapon into the grave, along with the clothing he was wearing when he killed Butler. Investigators said the clothing recovered from the grave contained DNA evidence from Grice and Butler.

A preliminary autopsy report was released this week that revealed the cause of death of the two mothers.

The report from the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Butler and Kelley were killed from multiple sharp-force trauma, which could be caused by a knife, glass, or anything with a cutting edge.

The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to release the full report on Nov. 15.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the five suspects were members of a group called God’s Misfits — reportedly a self-proclaimed anti-government group with a religious affiliation.

In April, the supposed founder of God's Misfits distanced himself from the suspects.

“Someway, people think they are part of us. Nothing could be more wrong,” the founder posted on Facebook. “God’s Misfits is about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, not about hate and murder.”

The preliminary hearings are scheduled to begin Dec. 17.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

KU Won’t Say How It Plans To Protect Conservative Students From Violent Threats From Instructors

School leadership at the University of Kansas appear to have no plans for keeping students safe against violent threats from staff.

If Harris Wins, The Pro-Life Movement Won’t Stand A Chance

Trump may not govern as a pro-life president, but Harris will most assuredly be the most pro-abortion president ever elected.

550,000 or more illegal aliens could receive amnesty under Biden-Harris admin’s executive order — states respond with lawsuit



The Biden-Harris administration's Department of Homeland Security recently announced the "Keeping Families Together" program, a mass amnesty process for at least 550,000 illegal aliens already residing in the United States.

The federal government claims that the new process demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration's "commitment to promoting family unity in the immigration system."

'Unlawfully creating a program that effectively provides a new pathway to citizenship.'

The program would allow some illegal aliens, including spouses and stepchildren of American citizens, to "request parole in place under existing statutory authority."

If granted parole in place, eligible illegal aliens will be allowed to remain in the U.S. while they request an adjustment of status.

According to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services, the administration estimates that 500,000 illegal alien spouses and 50,000 illegal alien stepchildren of American citizens are eligible for the process.

Of the roughly half a million spouses of American citizens, on average, most have resided unlawfully in the U.S. 23 years, the department reported. To be eligible for the program, spouses must have lived in the country illegally since June 2014 and have been married to a citizen since June 2024.

Eligible stepchildren of American citizens must be under 21 years old and be unmarried. They must have been residing unlawfully in the U.S. since June 2024 and have an illegal alien parent who is married to a citizen.

Applicants cannot have a "disqualifying criminal history," which includes such offenses as murder, rape, crimes involving firearms or controlled substances, aggravated assault, child pornography or abuse, and domestic violence. Those convicted of other crimes can "overcome the presumption of ineligibility" by "demonstrating positive factors that can be considered in overcoming this presumption and showing that you warrant a favorable exercise of discretion."

Even illegal aliens currently facing removal proceedings may be eligible for the Biden-Harris administration's program.

"If you have a final unexecuted removal order, non-disqualifying criminal history, or other derogatory information in your case, you may provide additional documentation that you believe demonstrates your parole is warranted based on a significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reasons, and that you merit a favorable exercise of discretion," USCIS said.

Critics have called the administration's executive order a mass amnesty program.

On Friday, a group of 16 Republican-led states filed a lawsuit in partnership with America First Legal against the federal government to stop the program. States attempting to block the effort include Texas, Idaho, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.

The lawsuit argues that the administration's claims that the process would impact roughly 550,000 illegal aliens is "likely a significant underestimate," stating that the number could be approximately 1.3 million.

The states claim the program circumvented Congress and would "irreparably harm" their communities.

The complaint accuses the administration of "unlawfully creating a program that effectively provides a new pathway to citizenship for more than a million illegal aliens," according to AFL.

"The coalition also seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop the Biden-Harris Administration from proceeding with its plans to provide immediate executive amnesty," it added.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, "Biden's new parole workaround unilaterally grants the opportunity for citizenship to unvetted aliens whose first act on American soil was to break our laws. This violates the Constitution and actively worsens the illegal immigration disaster that is hurting Texas and our country."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

States File Federal Lawsuit Seeking To Shut Down ‘Bidenbucks’

Biden's executive order is using federal agencies to register and mobilize left-leaning voters ahead of the 2024 election.

Kansas AG Sues Pfizer For ‘Falsely Representing’ And ‘Suppressing The Truth’ About Its Covid Jab

Kobach's lawsuit makes Kansas the third state to take action against Covid shot manufacturers for purportedly misleading consumers.

Kansas sues Pfizer for claiming its vaccine was 'safe and effective'



Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) announced Monday that the Sunflower State is suing Pfizer for "misleading claims it made related to the COVID vaccine."

Kobach noted at a press conference in Topeka that "Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans need the truth."

"Pfizer misled the public that it had a 'safe and effective' COVID-19 vaccine," claims the lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Thomas County, Kansas. "Pfizer said its COVID-19 vaccine was safe even though it knew is COVID-19 vaccine was connected to serious adverse events, including myocarditis and pericarditis, failed pregnancies and deaths. Pfizer concealed this critical safety information from the public."

'Pfizer must be held accountable for falsely representing the benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine while concealing and suppressing the truth.'

The complaint further alleges the pharma giant:

  • glossed over the waning efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine as well as its ineffectiveness against variants and the absence of evidence it curbed transmission;
  • "used FOIA denial and delay to conceal critical data relating to the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine";
  • "used an extended study timeline to conceal critical data relating to the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine";
  • used confidentiality agreements to hide the possible dangers and ineffectiveness of the jab;
  • covered its tracks by destroying the vaccine control group; and
  • engaged in a propaganda campaign wherein it omitted critical data about its vaccine, vilified critics, and mischaracterized its profitable product.

While reportedly making roughly $75 billion from its COVID-19 vaccine sales inside a two-year window — selling $57 billion of COVID products in 2022 alone — the lawsuit claims the company "worked to censor speech on social media that questioned Pfizer's claims about its COVID-19 vaccine."

Former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson, for instance, claimed that Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner who became a senior board member of Pfizer, leaned on Twitter in 2021 in an apparent effort to censor criticism of the vaccine. It appears such pressure may have been successful on numerous occasions.

The complaint accuses Pfizer of multiple violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and civil conspiracy.

"Pfizer must be held accountable for falsely representing the benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine while concealing and suppressing the truth about its vaccine's safety risks, waning effectiveness, and inability to prevent transmission," added the lawsuit.

Pfizer, which has produced over 366 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, told The Hill the case has "no merit."

"We are proud to have developed the COVID-19 vaccine in record time in the midst of a global pandemic and saved countless lives. The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based," said the company.

The lawsuit comes several months after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a similar lawsuit, claiming, "Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and censored persons who threatened to disseminate the truth in order to facilitate fast adoption of the product and expand its commercial opportunity."

The Texas lawsuit moved to a federal court in January.

Kansas' legal action also follows numerous medical admissions and scientific studies confirming the vaccines were not as advertised, as well as a class-action lawsuit against another COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer in Britain over injuries and deaths.

Blaze News previously reported that a peer-reviewed multinational study examining data from nearly 100 million people not only affirmed the well-documented link between the COVID-19 vaccines and increased risk of heart conditions but has also highlighted troubling links between the AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines and medical conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, brain and spinal cord inflammation, Bell's palsy, and convulsions.

The study, published in the esteemed journal Vaccine, also noted there were "significantly higher risks of myocarditis following the first, second and third doses" of Pfizer's BNT162b2 vaccine.

Another peer-reviewed study published Jan. 24 in the Springer Nature Group journal Cureus suggested the COVID-19 vaccines were a rushed product with an "unacceptable harm-to-reward ratio."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

19 State AGs Sue To Protect Residents From Blue State Climate Agenda

"A small gas station in rural Alabama could owe money to the people of Minnesota simply for selling a gallon of gas," Steve Marshall warns.

Texas, Kansas AGs File Suit Against Biden’s ATF Over Background Check Rule

'The constitutionally protected private sale of firearms'