"The Justice Department’s inspector general is investigating former President Trump’s decision to open a probe of U.S. automakers that bucked his vehicle emission standards in favor of California’s stricter ones, a lawmaker said today.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), speaking during a hearing on the nomination of Jonathan Kanter, President Biden’s candidate to lead DOJ’s antitrust division, said he was worried DOJ’s scope may not be broad enough.
“We don’t want to interfere with an inspector general inquiry, but at the same time, the inspector general’s scope can be viewed as limited,” Whitehouse said.
Under Trump, DOJ opened a probe into Ford Motor Co., BMW AG, Honda Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG after the companies negotiated a voluntary agreement with California in 2019."
