The Trump Justice Department has removed two top antitrust officials amid infighting over merger enforcement, sparking concerns over corporate influence and potential corruption. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roger Alford and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bill Rinner were fired for “insubordination” after being placed on administrative leave last week.
According to reports, the firings came amid growing scrutiny of a settlement between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks, which reportedly divided the DOJ internally. Justice Department leaders, including Chad Mizelle, allegedly overruled top antitrust officials who raised concerns about the deal.
Senator Amy Klobuchar called the firings “deeply concerning” and demanded answers from the Trump administration. Faiz Shakir, an adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, wrote that more people are taking notice of Trump’s power being used to coddle oligarchs.
The American Prospect’s David Dayen described the internal turmoil as an apparent effort by the Trump DOJ to hijack antitrust powers on behalf of large corporations. The firings have raised concerns about lenient enforcement and potential favor-trading with big companies, particularly in cases involving Google, Apple, Visa, Live Nation, RealPage, and others.
The Justice Department’s handling of mergers and corporate deals has been under intense scrutiny, with many questioning the influence of lobbyists and special interests on policy decisions. As the Trump administration continues to shape antitrust policies, concerns about corruption and favor-trading persist.
Source: https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-doj-fires-antitrust-officials