Study: Gleick Forged ‘Fakegate’ Memo

March 14, 2012 – A computer analysis of the “climate strategy memo” at the heart of the widely publicized global warming scandal called “Fakegate” concludes disgraced climate scientist Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, is the most likely author.

Gleick has already confessed to stealing confidential documents from The Heartland Institute in an attempt to expose the organization’s sources of funding. While first claiming the memo came from Heartland, he more recently claimed to have received it “in the mail” from an anonymous source.

The new analysis is important because virtually all of the negative coverage of The Heartland Institute and the global warming “skeptics” movement that followed the release of the stolen and forged documents was based on the assumed authenticity of the forged “confidential memo.”

Heartland has repeatedly said the memo does not represent its strategies or beliefs. See, for example, “An Analysis of the Forged ‘Heartland Climate Strategy’ Memo” by Heartland President Joseph L. Bast.

The computer analysis was conducted by Juola & Associates. According to the business’s Web site, it is “the premier provider of expert analysis and testimony in the field of text and authorship. Our scientists are leading, world-recognized experts in the fields of stylometry, authorship attribution, authorship verification, and author analysis.”

The analysis was conducted by Dr. Patrick Juola, director of research, and director of the Evaluating Variations in Language Laboratory at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Juola & Associates, headed by President Patrick Brennan, is a separate commercial entity that provides analysis and consultation on stylometry.

Dr. Juola’s complete analysis can be found on the Watts Up With That Web site.

Dr. Juola concludes his analysis saying: “Having examined these documents and their results, I therefore consider it more likely than not that Gleick is in fact the author/compiler of the document entitled ‘Confidential Memo: 2012 Heartland Climate Strategy,’ and further that the document does not represent a genuine strategy memo from the Heartland Institute.”

Anthony Watts, host of Watts Up With That, comments: “It seems very likely then, given the result of this analysis, plus the circumstances, proximity, motive, and opportunity, that Dr. Peter Gleick forged the document known as ‘Confidential Memo: 2012 Heartland Climate Strategy.’ The preponderance of the evidence points squarely to Gleick.”

The Heartland Institute asks the Web sites and blogs that have posted the forged memo to remove it, along with any commentary that relied on the false claims made in the memo. We also ask again that journalists who inaccurately reported that the memo reflected Heartland’s true tactics and beliefs correct their errors.

Every day the forged memo and fraudulent claims based on its authenticity remain on the Web and uncorrected undermines the credibility of those media outlets and Web sites that refuse to do the right thing. We ask for the public’s help in correcting the record and urging journalists and environmental activists to act ethically and responsibly.

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For more information:

The Heartland Institute

Director of Communications, Jim Lakely, jlakely@heartland.org

Juola & Associates:

Director of R&D, Dr. Patrick Juola, pjuola@juolaassoc.com
President, Patrick Brennan, pbrennan@juolaassoc.com