As DOJ Chief of Staff Resigns, Senators Demand DOJ Nominee Stanley Woodward Answer for his Alleged Corruption of Antitrust Enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four members of the U.S. Senate wrote to Stanley Woodward, counselor to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s nominee for Associate Attorney General (the third highest official at the Department of Justice), demanding that he answer questions about his meetings with lobbyists and whether he is too “compromised” to oversee the DOJ.
The call from senators comes only a day after the surprise resignation of Bondi’s Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle. Mizelle and Woodward are both currently facing allegations by a former Trump DOJ official that they improperly interfered in antitrust enforcement.
Last month, Public Citizen sent a letter to Senators detailing concerns about Woodward’s alleged moves to subvert antitrust enforcement after meeting with corporate lawyers and lobbyists and urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing and carefully scrutinize his actions before voting to confirm him as the #3 official at the DOJ.
Public Citizen Democracy Advocate Jon Golinger issued the following statement:
“Mizelle’s resignation shows that sunlight is the best disinfectant for exposing backroom deals that pervert justice is the best way to stop them. It’s so important that Senators Warren, Klobuchar, Booker and Blumenthal have detailed questions for Mr. Woodward so he can explain any discussions with corporate lawyers, lobbyists and consultants about antitrust enforcement and the cases that DOJ has shockingly ended. If Woodward refuses to answer Senators’ questions, the Senate must refuse to confirm him.”