Justice Department calls on states to investigate gas prices
The agencies said recent oil-market volatility does not excuse collusion or fraud and urged states to use antitrust and consumer protection laws.
- 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.
20 Articles
20 Articles
The Department of Justice this Friday urged state officials to investigate whether oil companies or fuel distributors are illegally keeping gasoline prices at artificially high levels, following President Donald Trump’s complaints that gas station prices have not gone down as fast as the cost of crude oil. “We urge state law enforcement authorities to join us in investigating illegal practices.
DOJ Urges States to Investigate Oil Companies Over High Gas Prices
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday announced it is urging state attorneys general to probe whether oil companies are illegally keeping gasoline prices artificially high after a recent decline in crude oil prices following a temporary end to hostilities between the United States and Iran. In the letter, DOJ Assistant Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson said that “although crude oil prices…
DOJ Urges States to Probe Possible Gas Price Gouging
The Hill 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 in a July 3 letter that the agencies are “closely mon…
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