I wrote last night about a series of new revelations in the case of the fraudulent climate letters to members of Congress. Throughout the day, Talking Points Memo has uncovered several additional developments.

• Astroturf Firm Bonner Institutes New No-Forgery Quality Control Policy
• Bonner Paid Productivity Bonus To Employee Who Forged Letter

Most importantly, TPM has obtained a copy of the letter Akin Gump sent to Congressman Markey’s office on behalf of Bonner and Associates. The letter included as an attachment a set of talking points and sample script employees working on the ACCCE campaign were given.

Crucially, the talking points specifically instructed employees to lie to the community organizations they were calling, telling them they were working with seniors/veterans groups and that other seniors/veterans groups had written the letter they would be signing. They were in fact working directly for a coal industry front group, and the letter was written by Bonner and associates.

Here is the text of the example script from the talking points:

I am working with seniors to stop an increase in their utility bills. Do you know any seniors that are struggling to get by on social security? {wait for a response} What would happen if their utility bill doubled? Would they not run the air-conditioner in the summer or not have heat in the winter? What else might they cut out of their budget to have electricity…food…medicine? I have a letter that other senior groups have wrote would you write a similar one (OR) would you sign a similar letter?

Here is a screenshot of the talking points (click for full size):