Sheldon Whitehouse has emerged as one of the Senate's most persistent voices on climate change, regularly delivering detailed floor speeches about environmental science and leading investigations into fossil fuel industry influence on politics. The former Rhode Island Attorney General and federal prosecutor built his reputation as a methodical investigator, bringing that prosecutorial approach to his work on the Judiciary Committee, where he has become known for his pointed questioning during Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Whitehouse has also been a vocal advocate for ethics reform and dark money transparency, frequently criticizing what he calls the "scheme" of undisclosed political spending that he argues corrupts the democratic process.