House Democrats Initiate Inquiry into Removal of US Antitrust Chief Gail Slater
House Democrats have formally launched an inquiry into the controversial ouster of Gail Slater, the former head of the US justice department's antitrust division. This move comes as tensions escalate over allegations of political interference in high-profile merger cases.
Demands for Justice Department Briefing
In an exclusive development, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, has requested a detailed briefing from the justice department regarding Slater's forced resignation earlier this month. Slater stepped down amid a cloud of controversy and strained relations with her superiors within the Trump administration.
Raskin's letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi marks the initial phase of what is anticipated to evolve into a comprehensive investigation. Should Democrats secure a House majority in the upcoming midterm elections, they would gain subpoena power, potentially expanding the scope of this probe significantly.
Allegations of Lobbyist Influence
The inquiry focuses on the role of Trump-connected lobbyists in Slater's removal, particularly following her efforts to block a $14 billion merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks, a prominent cloud-computing and software firm. Raskin expressed concerns that Slater's departure has left a leadership void at a critical juncture for the antitrust division.
"With the departure of AAG Slater, it appears there are no longer any principled antitrust experts left to guard the antitrust division from this cascade of corruption," Raskin wrote. "The leadership vacuum is occurring just as the antitrust division is handling historic cases."
Deteriorating Relationships and Contradictions
Slater's exit was precipitated by a steady deterioration in her relationships with Bondi and JD Vance, once a key ally who grew frustrated with her invoking his name at the justice department. This breakdown was largely tied to the Hewlett Packard Enterprise case, as previously reported by the Guardian.
Among the contentious issues, Slater had assured Bondi that the US intelligence community raised no national security concerns about halting the merger. However, this claim was contradicted by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who questioned why he had not been consulted. An exasperated Bondi later told associates she believed Slater had misled her to pursue the lawsuit, which the justice department ultimately dropped in June 2025 in favor of a settlement.
Broader Antitrust Concerns
Raskin's letter also raises questions about several other high-profile cases, including mergers involving American Express Global Business Travel and CWT Holdings, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, as well as bids by Netflix and Paramount to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Additionally, it references an appeal against a US district court ruling that Google maintains a monopoly over online searches.
Regarding the American Express deal, Raskin noted, "It appears the dismissal may have also prevented the disclosure of contacts between DOJ officials and Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with close ties to President Trump where you were a partner until January 2025."
Political Lobbying and Internal Warnings
Roger Alford, Slater's former principal deputy, hinted at political lobbying influencing the Live Nation matter during remarks at a Tech Policy Institute event after his own removal from the antitrust division last year. The letter quotes Alford as warning that firms "have paid a bevy of cozy MAGA friends to roam the halls of [DOJ's] Fifth Floor in defense of their monopoly abuses."
Potential Implications for Trump Allies
An investigation into Slater's removal could prove damaging for Trump allies perceived to have played a role in the saga. Individuals such as Mike Davis, a Republican litigator retained by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, who claimed credit for Slater's ouster in social media posts, may face scrutiny. Davis declined to comment when contacted, but has previously posted on X, "Dear Trump Appointees: If Senate Democrats would be upset if you got fired, you should just resign now. You're in the wrong administration."
The justice department has not yet responded to Raskin's latest request, referring queries to Bondi's earlier statement thanking Slater for her service. However, the department's lack of response to a prior August request about internal turmoil has only strengthened Democrats' resolve to pursue this investigation further.
