Warren, Klobuchar, Lawmakers Press for New Independent Watchdog Investigation into Trump DOJ Cesspool of Corruption Surrounding Merger Review
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Home Newsroom Press Releases April 16, 2026 Warren, Klobuchar, Lawmakers Press for New Independent Watchdog Investigation into Trump DOJ Cesspool of Corruption Surrounding Merger Review “Antitrust enforcement should promote competition and help workers and families based on the law and facts of the case, not political favors worked out with well-connected lobbyists” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) in requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Inspector General (IG) William M. Blier open a new, independent investigation into potential corruption involving the DOJ's antitrust-related activity. The request follows multiple questionable antitrust enforcement decisions by the Trump administration after meetings between DOJ leadership and corporate lobbyists, as well as the ouster of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Antitrust Division head Gail Slater. This pattern raises fresh concerns that the DOJ will intensify its efforts to carry out President Trump’s personal agenda rather than uphold the rule of law. “These cases reveal an alarming pattern of behavior in which top DOJ officials have repeatedly overridden antitrust enforcement efforts, potentially at the urging of politically connected corporate lobbyists and influence peddlers, regardless of the merits of the antitrust issues raised in the matters before the DOJ, including proposed mergers,” wrote the lawmakers. Public reporting over the past year has revealed multiple instances in which DOJ officials appear to have overruled antitrust experts after meeting with corporate lobbyists to deliver favorable decisions — potentially contrary to the law — for companies seeking deal approvals or other favorable treatment from the government. These decisions have raised serious concerns under antitrust, federal ethics, and bribery laws and regulations and wholly undermine the DOJ Antitrust Division’s mission. “We request that your office conduct an evaluation of potential misconduct by any employees – including current employees like Acting Attorney General Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and former employees like former Attorney General Bondi and former chief of staff Chad Mizelle, who met with lobbyists with business pending before the DOJ Antitrust Division,” wrote the lawmakers. “We also ask that your office examine the role corporate lobbyists have had in influencing DOJ’s antitrust enforcement actions since Jan
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