The Trump Deprtment of Justice (DOJ) opened its Inquiry into: BMW, Ford, Honda, and Volkswagen, in 2019. The Automakers sided with California in a Feud over the State’s strict Vehicle Emissions Standards.
Binden's DOJ's Inspector General (IG) is Investigating the Trump Administration's decision to Open an Antitrust Probe of Four Automakers, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said Wednesday.
“I believe the inspector general is investigating this matter,” Whitehouse said at a Hearing on the Nomination of Jonathan Kanter, Biden’s pick to Helm the DOJ’s Antitrust Division.
The IG's Office has Not announced that it was looking into the Trump-era Probe, which Whitehouse and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) lambasted at the time as Politically Motivated.
The Trump DOJ opened its Inquiry, investigating whether they Illegally Coordinated when they entered an Agreement to follow California's Limits on Auto Emissions.
The Probe came as the Trump Administration was Fighting on Multiple Fronts to Stop the State from thwarting the President's efforts to roll back Clean Air Rules.
The Antitrust Division later Closed the Probe without taking any Action.
Last summer, a DOJ Whistleblower testified before Congress, that the Probe was Rushed, Unusual, and Launched, despite Objections from Career Staff the day after Trump tweeted Critically about the Deal. Trump Denounced the Leaders of the "politically correct Automobile Companies" as "foolish" for Opposing his Push for Laxer Regulations.
Trump DOJ Officials, including former Antitrust Division Leader, Makan Delrahim, Denied that the Probe was Motivated by Political Bias.
Whitehouse has repeatedly pushed the DOJ for Information on the Antitrust Probe. At Wednesday’s Hearing, Whitehouse said he was concerned that the IG's Investigation wouldn’t Extend to possible White House’s Involvement.
A DOJ IG Probe “stops as soon as the White House says it stops,” he said. “If there were violations of the Department of Justice and White House counsel policy regarding contacts between the Department of Justice and White House, that would be an appropriate use of this committee’s oversight inquiries.”
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