Rob Bonta and others are accused of conspiring to defame the Spring-based oil giant and its plastic recycling initiatives.

The oil giant ExxonMobil this week sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alleging that the state’s chief lawyer has been motivated by “foreign influence, personal ambition, and a murky source of financing rife with conflicting business interests.”

ExxonMobil sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups alleging tortious interference with its plastic recycling business.

Exxon Mobil Corp. has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups.

ExxonMobil on Monday sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and a group of environmental activist groups, alleging they colluded on a campaign of defamation against the oil giant’s plastic

The lawsuit, an unusual strategy for the oil giant, comes after California’s attorney general sued Exxon last year alleging it misled the public about plastics recycling.

In a retaliatory lawsuit, Exxon says claims against it are motivated by “sordid for-profit incentives and outright greed.”

Exxon accused Rob Bonta, the Sierra Group and others of making “false accusations” about its advanced recycling process.

Months after California's blockbuster lawsuit against ExxonMobil over alleged "greenwashing," the oil and gas giant is suing California right back. ExxonMobil accuses the state's attorney general and a number of environmental groups of defamation and seeks unspecified damages and retractions,