Last September, we got word that the U.S. Department of Justice had begun an investigation into Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, and BMW after the four said they had reached agreements with California over emissions regulations. Surely that all didn’t start because of tweets from Trump, right? Oh wait, I’m being told otherwise.
The timeline is remarkable. As Bloomberg reported yesterday:
The memo opening the automaker investigation was dated Aug. 22, 2019, one day after Trump issued a series of tweets blasting executives for refusing to back the administration’s August 2018 plan that called for capping efficiency requirements after 2020 and revoking California’s authority to regulate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
[…]
“The day after the tweets, Antitrust Division political leadership instructed staff to initiate an investigation,” [John Elias, a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division] said during the hearing. He said paperwork for the probe was hurried and that staff had only partially reviewed public information relevant to the deal, but the probe proceeded anyway.
“The career staff who examined it saw some very obvious defences” for the California emissions pact, Elias said. “You really have to twist things to get around those, so it did not appear to be in good faith.”
Elias was testifying today at the House Judiciary Committee as a whistleblower. He also said that he reported what he knew to the U.S. Department of Justice’s inspector general. The Department of Justice’s investigation was closed in February after the department didn’t find anything that violated the law.
The apparent tweets in question, by the way, are pretty standard stuff from Trump. I would point out that none of them make sense or are factually accurate, but I respect you, reader.
….that when this Administration’s alternative is no longer available, California will squeeze them to a point of business ruin. Only reason California is now talking to them is because the Feds are giving a far better alternative, which is much better for consumers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
My proposal to the politically correct Automobile Companies would lower the average price of a car to consumers by more than $3000, while at the same time making the cars substantially safer. Engines would run smoother. Very little impact on the environment! Foolish executives!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
The Legendary Henry Ford and Alfred P. Sloan, the Founders of Ford Motor Company and General Motors, are “rolling over” at the weakness of current car company executives willing to spend more money on a car that is not as safe or good, and cost $3,000 more to consumers. Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
Twitter should delete Trump’s account — and Trump’s account alone — not only for the betterment of the U.S. but also because it would be extremely funny.