Greenpeace pays protestors to riot and cause chaos, Washington insider says

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The verdict against environmental group Greenpeace could bankrupt the organization for good after they were ordered to pay $667 million for defamation to pipeline company Energy Transfer following delayed construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Armstrong Williams, who is known as a “Washington insider,” said Greenpeace and other organizations fund riots, vandalism, and disruption.

This money is collected from taxpayers,” Williams told The National News Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat during a one-on-one interview Monday.

This is what’s going on in our country right now, he added. “These companies are the main purveyors of paying people to be actors, to be outraged, to be on camera, to make it seem as though they are acting out of some sort of principle and it’s finally catching up because the Trump administration is following the money. The Justice Department is following the money -- no different than those who are burning Tesla’s cars. Three have been arrested. They are paid to do these things. They’re not acting out of some conviction. They are being paid and it's about money. They are trying to destroy our way of life.”

Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access alleged defamation, trespass, nuisance and other offenses by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International, its American branch Greenpeace USA, and funding arm Greenpeace Fund Inc. The pipeline company is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit stems from protests in 2016 and 2017 of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline and its Missouri River crossing upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation. The tribe for years has opposed the pipeline as a risk to its water supply. The pipeline has transported oil since mid-2017.

For more, watch the video player above or visit The National News Desk’s YouTube channel for Jeffcoat's full interview with Williams.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.