Science: 1
Witch Hunter: 0

According to both the Richmond Times Dispatch and the Washington Post, Ken Cuccinelli’s attempt to investigate University of Virginia climate scientist, Michael Mann, is not legally founded.

An Albemarle County Circuit Court judge has set aside a subpoena issued by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to the University of Virginia seeking documents related to the work of climate scientist and former university professor Michael Mann.

Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. ruled that Cuccinelli can investigate whether fraud has occurred in university grants, as the attorney general had contended, but ruled that Cuccinelli’s subpoena failed to state a “reason to believe” that Mann had committed fraud.

Excerpt from an article by Rosalind Helderman, Washington Post

Michael Mann sums up the attempt and outcome perfectly:

It is a victory not just for me and the university, but for all scientists who live in fear that they may be subject to a politically-motivated witch hunt when their research findings prove inconvenient to powerful vested interests.

You can read the Post here and the Dispatch here.