Read here. Michael Mann is suspected of defrauding taxpayers due to his work in climate science. Science fraud is not unusual, yet Michael Mann refuses to cooperate with various individuals and organizations seeking information about his taxpayer funded scientific work that could actually exonerate him. Michael Mann seeks to be placed above the law, namely the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA is designed to establish essential expectations of transparency of the government funded bureaucracy and its minions, which categorically applies to both the University of Virginia and Michael Mann. Both UofV and Mann have refused to comply with the FOIA thus putting themselves in harm's way of the law.
Scientists and universities are not immune, nor above any law, as are the crooks in Congress and the plethora of corrupt UN diplomats - thank goodness. Misconduct and/or fraud in science needs to be identified and stopped legally, especially when institutions of higher learning and the scientific governing associations fail continuously to protect the public from these science transgressions.
"Whether it is the special immunities and privileges the MainStream Media (MSM) seek to deny ordinary citizen journalists or the climate data and information climate scientists attempt to deny ordinary citizen observers of climate science, you don’t have to be a Republican, a political conservative, or a right-wing-nut, to join with our political opponents in demanding non-discriminatory application of the due process of law to scientists the same as other citizens and professions."