Justice Department calls on states to investigate gas prices
- On Friday, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission urged state attorneys general to investigate whether oil companies are illegally keeping gasoline prices artificially high, escalating President Donald Trump's campaign against what he has called price gouging.
- Trump's public demand nine days ago that the DOJ investigate oil companies prompted the federal letter, as he complained that companies have not lowered prices despite a sharp decline in crude oil costs.
- National average gas prices currently stand at around $3.82 per gallon, down roughly 44 cents from $4.26 last month, while the Antitrust Division highlighted its whistleblower rewards program paying informants between 15% and 30% of criminal fines.
- Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said, "Affordable energy is essential to a thriving American economy," and pledged the Antitrust Division will use all available tools to hold companies accountable for unlawfully manipulating the market.
- Federal officials stressed that market volatility "does not suspend either the antitrust laws or state consumer protection laws," as this action continues an aggressive enforcement campaign that included a recent lawsuit against egg producers.
7 Articles
7 Articles
Justice Department urges states to probe possible gas price gouging
The Justice Department on Friday called on states to “use all tools available” to investigate whether oil companies and individuals are intentionally inflating gas prices amid complaints from President Trump that they are falling too slowly. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson also informed state attorneys general…
DOJ and FTC press states to target any illegal activity contributing to high gas prices
The federal government is urging state attorneys general to probe and prosecute any illegal activities contributing to high fuel costs for Americans. “Although crude oil prices are now dropping rapidly, far too much of that price cut is being withheld from Americans when they pay for gasoline,” the letter, signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Wodward Jr. and Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, claims. The document includes a …
DOJ investigating oil companies over manipulating gas prices
The Justice Department is urging state attorneys general to investigate whether oil companies are illegally keeping gasoline prices artificially high, escalating President Donald Trump’s campaign against what he has called price gouging at the pump. In a joint letter sent Friday, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission encouraged state attorneys general to launch investigations under their own antitrust and consumer protect…
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