General Motors has consistently been a topic of U.S. politics since the automaker was bailed out and proceeded to file for bankruptcy. As much as GM CEO, Mary Barra, is ready to move forward, politics have a tricky way of bringing things back to the limelight.
Republican presidential candidate, Chris Christie, commented during last night’s CNBCÂ debate that he would have prosecuted executives at GM, as told by The Detroit News. Christie is a former U.S. attorney.
“This Justice Department under this president has been a political Justice Department,” Christie said. “They like General Motors, so they give them a pass. They don’t like someone else like (Retired Gen.) David Petraeus. They prosecute them and sent a decorated general to disgrace,” he commented during the debate.
GM was charged by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara with two felonies, but a deferred prosecution agreement has the U.S. dropping them and the criminal investigation. GM will pay $900 million and be subject to three years of federal oversight.
Bharara has gone on the record to state it was simply too difficult to charge individuals in the ignition-switch recall scandal, blaming federal law gaps.
Comments
Indeed. His charge was far too simplistic. And furthermore, the Bush administration politicized the DOJ far more, with the firing 7 US Attorneys for not following political orders from Attorney General Gonzales.
Please listen to this NJ resident and registered Republican- cast your vote elsewhere if you participate in the primary. There are far better choices. Typical for him to pick and choose when he would uphold federal law, or prosecute various corporations.
Funny how this giant shack of sit fails to mention the walk Obama gave war criminals W and President Cheney.
This is just an opinion with nothing to back it up. If you don’t have proof, one’s mouth is better closed.
You are correct, Jon. I know all politicians spout opinions not backed by facts, but Governor Christie does so with astonishing abandon. His track record running NJ has been quite abysmal. Now he boasts that he would have prosecuted employees of GM. Sigh.