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Attorney General Jeff Landry Delivers Major Victory for Louisiana: Court Halts Biden's Attack on American Energy

LAFAYETTE, LA – A Federal Judge has granted Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s request for a preliminary injunction against President Biden's reckless abuse of Presidential power that threatens American families' livelihoods and our national security. Judge Terry Doughty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued the nationwide injunction against Biden’s ban on oil and gas leases on federal lands.

“This is a victory not only for the rule of law, but also for the thousands of workers who produce affordable energy for Americans,” declared Attorney General Landry, who led the 
13-state lawsuit against Biden’s Executive Order 14008 which declared a moratorium on future oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal lands.

In a hearing last Thursday, the federal government admitted a March 2021 auction of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico and a planned auction of leases in Alaska’s Cook Inlet were halted in response to an order by President Biden. The Court found that Louisiana and the other Plaintiffs are likely to prove seven onshore lease auctions were halted for the same reason, and that the federal government’s environmental claims are pretextual.

“The President’s Executive Order abandons middle-class jobs, cripples our economy, and hits everyday Americans where it hurts the most – their pocketbooks,” continued Attorney General Landry. “What’s more: it attacks Louisiana’s coast by reducing the revenue and royalties used for coastal restoration and hurricane protection."

In last week’s 
oral arguments, lawyers from Attorney General Landry’s Office said that Biden Officials cannot legally halt all lease sales because Congress, by statute, has commanded that such lease sales happen on a regular basis. They cited the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act as explicitly prohibiting the Biden Ban.

“While our fight is far from over, I am pleased the Court granted preliminary relief against the President’s unconscionable attack on American energy,” concluded Attorney General Landry.

The case is captioned Louisiana v. Biden, No. 2:21-cv-778. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill is lead counsel; Deputy Solicitor Scott St. John argued for the preliminary injunction.