Central ND News

Steve Cortes, a political commentator, said that Greenpeace is facing consequences for its actions following a legal ruling that holds the organization accountable for its involvement in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. This statement was made on X on March 20.

"Hopefully this giant verdict bankrupts that toxic organization," said Cortes. "Promotes neither a “green” planet, nor “peace”! Will pay mightily for its misdeeds."

According to AP News, a North Dakota jury ordered Greenpeace to pay nearly $667 million to Energy Transfer over protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Greenpeace USA is responsible for about $404 million, while Greenpeace Fund and Greenpeace International each owe around $131 million. The case stems from the 2016 and 2017 protests near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. Greenpeace plans to appeal this decision.

The Financial Times reports that the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline sparked mass protests in 2016, with over 100,000 people rallying in Mandan, North Dakota, led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe over concerns about water safety and tribal sovereignty. After a federal lawsuit against Greenpeace was dismissed, Energy Transfer filed a similar case in state court, resulting in a nearly $667 million verdict. Nearly two dozen states have enacted anti-protest laws near pipelines since 2017.

Cortes is a longtime TV commentator who began his broadcast career at CNBC and later became a prominent political voice, serving as a key Trump campaign surrogate in 2016 and now leading media firm Rise Strategies while advising conservative causes, according to WSB.