May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers behind a congressional

probe of major oil companies on Wednesday called on the Justice

Department to investigate whether the industry deceived the

public about fossil fuels' impact on climate change.

Two Democrats, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative

Jamie Raskin, outlined the findings of a nearly three-year

investigation into Big Oil and urged the agency to take action

in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The lawmakers accuse companies Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), Chevron ( CVX )

, BP and Shell, oil and gas trade group

American Petroleum Institute and business group the U.S. Chamber

of Commerce of working together to mislead the public by making

promises to reduce emissions while also seeking to protect oil

and gas production.

"This evidence, combined with the entities' failure to

comply fully with validly issued congressional subpoenas,

suggests that further investigation by the executive branch is

warranted," the letter said.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the agency had

received the letter but would not comment on it.

Exxon, Chevron ( CVX ), BP, Shell and the Chamber did not

immediately respond to requests for comment.

The American Petroleum Institute called the move a

distraction.

"This is another unfounded political charade to distract

from persistent inflation and America's need for more energy,

including oil and natural gas. U.S. energy workers are focused

on delivering the reliable, affordable oil and natural gas

Americans demand and any suggestion to the contrary is false,"

an API spokesperson said in a statement.