"The federal judge rejected the California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s request to dismiss Exxon Mobil’s lawsuit accusing Bonta of defamation for criticizing Exxon Mobil’s advanced plastics recycling initiatives.

Bonta claimed that he had immunity from suit because he criticised Exxon while in his official capacity of Attorney General and within the "heartland' of his employment duties.

The Beaumont, Texas judge said that whether Bonta criticised Exxon with good faith is a factual question to be decided later.

Truncale said he had no jurisdiction to hear the claims made against the Sierra Club, Baykeeper Heal the Bay, and Surfrider Foundation. "

Jonathan Stempel reports for Reuters February 13, 2026. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Judge Axes Exxon’s Defamation Suit Against Environmentalists" (New York Times) [3]