(Reuters) – The Justice Department has been asked by nine U.S. House Democrats to allow Steven Donziger, an American environmental lawyer who had spent many decades fighting for the environment. Chevron Corp (NYSE 🙂 concerns about pollution in Ecuadorian rainforest.

A six-month sentence was handed to the lawyer who had been disbarred in October because of criminal contempt for a suit brought against them by oil companies.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and RashidaTlaib, Democrats included in the Alexandria Ocasio Cortez group, sent Monday a letter to Attorney General Merrick Galrland complaining that the lawyer was being held for “petty contempt” of court.

“As Mr. Donziger is an American party in the District Court Case against him, we ask that you immediately reclaim this case and dismiss the charges to free Mr. Donziger.” The letter read.

Loretta Preska, U.S. District Judge sentenced Donziger in May for “willfully” violating court orders. He also failed to return his computer or other devices.

Donziger was a lawyer representing villagers in Ecuador’s Lago Agrio. They sought to make Chevron liable in a lawsuit for contamination of water and soil by Texaco, which the company acquired in 2000. Donziger received a $9.5 Billion judgment in Ecuador against Chevron.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan decided in favor Chevron in 2014 that the Ecuadorian judgement had been obtained fraudulently.

Chevron has not responded to a Reuters inquiry for comment that was sent overnight.