(Mandan, ND) — Testimony begins in Mandan this morning in a 300-million-dollar civil trial against Greenpeace by a Texas pipeline company. The New York Times says Texas company Energy Transfer is accusing the environmental group of masterminding the protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline that happened nearly ten years ago south of Bismarck. Greenpeace says the lawsuit is intended to suppress free speech, and to set a chilling precedent for protest groups. The Morton County Clerk says a jury has been selected and testimony will begin this morning. The trial is expected to last about five weeks.
