The University of Virginia is questioning Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's motive for investigating a former professor's climate change research.
Cuccinelli is investigating whether Michael Mann defrauded taxpayers by using manipulated data to obtain state grants backing his global-warming research.
But the university said in court papers filed Tuesday that Cuccinelli, a global warming skeptic, is using the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act to challenge Mann's methodologies and conclusions.
The briefs filed in Albemarle County Circuit Court said Cuccinelli has failed to state the nature of any alleged violation of the law.
A hearing on Cuccinelli's demand that the university turn over records related to Mann's work is set for Aug. 20.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
