FACT CHECK #TK4ACZ5U

WHAT WE FOUND

In February 2011, U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman did find the Department of the Interior in civil contempt for its de facto moratorium on deepwater drilling permits following the BP oil spill 7 8. However, Barack Obama was not personally held in contempt of court 1. High-credibility sources clarify that while the Interior Department was 'taken to task,' the President was not the subject of the order 1. Furthermore, a federal appeals court later ruled that the administration did not violate the judge's order, effectively overturning the basis for the contempt finding 9. Additionally, the claim that Obama was the first President to be held in contempt is historically inaccurate, as Bill Clinton was held in civil contempt in 1999 1.

SOURCES

1. 1 · answers.comACADEMIC
   Was Barack Obama held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? - Answers

   TIER A

2. 2 · theguardian.comNEWS
   Louisiana court overturns Barack Obama's ban on oil drilling in Gulf | Deepwater Horizon oil spill | The Guardian

   TIER A

3. 3 · en.wikipedia.orgWEB
   2010 United States deepwater drilling moratorium - Wikipedia

   TIER B

4. 4 · washingtonexaminer.comWEB
   Day 9: Obama repeatedly defied federal court with Gulf oil policies - Washington Examiner

   TIER B

5. 5 · dailysignal.comWEB
   Mr. President, You're in Contempt

   TIER B

6. 6 · freerepublic.comWEB
   He has done more than any other President before him. Here is a list of his impressive accomplishments (lists 37 examples of Obama's lawlessness.)

   TIER B

7. 7 · politico.comWEB
   Judge holds Interior in contempt - POLITICO

   TIER B

8. 8 · fedsoc.orgWEB
   Obama Administration Policy on Offshore Oil and Gas Production: Consensus or Contempt?

   TIER B

9. 9 · lmoga.comWEB
   Obama administration didn't violate order striking down temporary…

   TIER B

10. 10 · thisdayofhistory.comWEB
    April 20, 2010: Barack Obama's First Scandal - This Day of History

    TIER B

THE READING