Washington, D.C. — Following new reporting from The Capitol Forum detailing how top leadership at the Department of Justice overruled its own Antitrust Division to force through a last minute-settlement in the $14 billion HPE-Juniper merger, after political operatives tied to the Trump administration lobbied on the companies’ behalf, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
“Congress must immediately open an investigation into Attorney General Pam Bondi’s involvement in what appears to be a corrupt and politically-rigged merger settlement,” said Nidhi Hegde, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project. “When DOJ leadership overrules its own antitrust staff and forces a weak settlement that clearly favors corporate interests, both congressional oversight and judicial review under the Tunney Act become essential safeguards. Every member of Congress, along with the Judge in the case, should be alarmed by signs that DOJ leadership is auctioning off merger enforcement rather than enforcing the law. The integrity of our antitrust system cannot be compromised by backroom deals or political interference.”
“Given the reports of improper influence, along with the mismatch between the alleged harms and the remedy,” added Hegde, “Judge Pitts must also use his authority under the Tunney Act to scrutinize this settlement in the best interest of the public.”
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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.