[Reuters, Washington, 19th]-The Democratic Party's investigation into the investigation conducted by the Justice Department on the suspected violation of the antitrust law against the voluntary standards for emission reduction agreed by California and four major automobile companies Two leading parliamentarians asked the White House to submit materials indicating whether President Trump's intervention or direction had been received.
According to a letter obtained by Reuters, Nadler's House Judicial Chairman and House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Sicilini told the White House's Siporone Legal Counsel and the Deputy Justice Deputy Assistant Secretary of Justice Department Antitrust Law. He requested that Mr. Trump submit materials until October 2 that show the exchanges that Mr. Trump exchanged with White House and Justice Department officials.
The Ministry of Justice surveyed Ford Motor <FN>, Honda <7267.T>, BMW <BMWG.DE>, and Volkswagen <VOWG_p.DE>.
Nadler and Sicilini pointed out in the letter that "if there was an actual intervention, it would mean serious abuse of power." The survey criticizes it as “a new example that uses antitrust laws as a weapon and aims at a target that seems to be the president's political enemy”.
Deputy Attorney General Derahim admitted that he sent a letter to the four major automakers on August 28, but said the investigation was not done for "political reasons."
The Justice Department and the White House have not commented.
Separately, four Senate Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Barr on 19th, asking them to submit materials that indicate whether Mr. Trump was involved in the investigation. On March 18, another Senate Democrat sent a letter to Secretary Bar to protest the investigation.
The media, including Reuters, reported earlier about the existence of the investigation. Mr. Trump has repeatedly accused automakers that have agreed to California's own standards against the current administration's policy to ease the strict fuel economy standards established during the Obama administration.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 19 that California will be deprived of its authority to introduce its own vehicle emissions regulations.
