DOJ to meet with families of Boeing victims as decision closes on if company violated prosecution deal

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent a letter to the families of victims of two Boeing 737 MAX crashes, requesting a meeting with them to determine whether the company violated an agreement granting immunity from criminal prosecution in the crashes. There is. .

letter, Obtained and reported by ABC Newswas sent by the Department of Justice’s Fraud Division, asking victims’ families to attend a May 31 meeting where they will be informed of the department’s decision.

Boeing has come under intense scrutiny this year after a series of safety incidents, halting its recovery from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The case puts a spotlight on corporate culture, safety and manufacturing.

In April, about a dozen relatives of passengers killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash met with officials in Washington to find that Boeing violated the terms of a 2021 settlement of criminal fraud charges against Boeing. He asked for sin to be restored.

The agreement meant that Boeing would continue to cooperate with the government, disclose all allegations of wrongdoing, and avoid any serious criminal charges. If the Justice Department determines that the company is in violation of the agreement, it could lead to historic criminal prosecutions that would likely have repercussions for the entire industry.

“The Department of Justice has been very opaque to families about how they will determine if they are in compliance or non-compliance,” attorney Robert Clifford, who is representing the families, said, according to ABC. “This was a very disappointing point in the agency’s contact and communication with families. However, in fairness to the department, prosecutors rarely discuss details of investigations, so this was an unusual That’s not the point.”

The Justice Department has invited victims’ families to meet for seven hours with attorneys from its fraud unit later this month to be briefed on the department’s decision and “potential next steps.” Their views and opinions will be heard as well, ABC reported.

The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. Boeing had no comment.