A US federal magistrate has refused to order the White House to provide BP with emails by President Barack Obama’s former adviser on energy and climate matters about the administration’s response to last summer’s massive Gulf oil spill.
A company lawyer said emails by Carol Browner could shed light on the White House’s role in estimating the rate of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the company’s blown-out well.
But U.S. Magistrate Sally Shushan denied the request Wednesday saying BP PLC didn’t sufficiently show why it needs the documents.
The Justice Department said BP’s request was overly broad.
