WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, and longtime leader of the Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, led 6 of her colleagues in raising concerns about the Department of Justice's commitment to antitrust enforcement amid reports that Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater was forced to resign.

Slater received broad bipartisan support in her Senate confirmation last year and was confirmed by the Senate with a 78-19 vote but was ousted from her post earlier this week. Slater's resignation comes only weeks before the landmark case to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster is scheduled to go to trial, raising concerns her departure may clear the way for the Justice Department to settle that case on terms favorable to the company, rather than fans, artists, and independent venues.

"Slater's resignation is especially concerning given numerous reports that the experts and attorneys at the Antitrust Division have repeatedly been sidelined by leadership at the Justice Department, including when settling the Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Juniper Networks merger, forgoing a routine investigation into the real estate brokerage merger between Compass and Anywhere, and most recently, discussions about settling the case to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster," wrote the Senators. "These actions raise serious questions as to the Justice Department's commitment to enforcing the antitrust laws based on the objective application of the law and the facts of any given case. Instead, it appears that Justice Department leadership is undermining dedicated antitrust enforcers work to protect consumers and small businesses."

Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roger Alford warned of exactly this after he was fired, asking if the Live Nation-Ticketmaster case may be "the next casualty" because the company had hired a "bevy of cozy MAGA friends" to lobby the Justice Department.

Along with Klobuchar the letter was signed by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

The full letter is available hereand below.

Dear Attorney General Bondi,

We write with regard to the Department of Justice's antitrust enforcement agenda following the recent ousting of Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater. In the last year, the Justice Department has litigated several important cases, including a landmark case against Google for monopolizing online advertising brought during the Biden Administration; strong remedies in the Google Search case filed during the first Trump Administration; the vital case to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster for trial next month; and numerous other cases, including those against Apple to Agri Stats. Her departure raises significant concerns about this Administration's commitment to enforcing the antitrust laws for the betterment of consumers and small businesses, including seeing through its cases against monopolies.

When announcing the nomination of Ms. Slater, the President said that "Gail will help ensure that our competition laws are enforced, both vigorously and FAIRLY." At her confirmation hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Grassley noted "Ms. Slater also has an impressive resume and the right qualifications to run the Antitrust Division…I hope for an Antitrust Division under her leadership." Ms. Slater was subsequently recommended by the Senate Judiciary committee on a 20-2 bipartisan vote. She was confirmed by the Senate with a 78-19 vote. Indeed, at your confirmation hearing, you said Ms. Slater was "amazing and [has] bipartisan support" noting she knows "antitrust much better than I" and that you "plan on working with Gail Slater and all the lawyers" in the Antitrust Division. Yet, less than a year after her bipartisan confirmation, she was forced to resign.

Her resignation is especially concerning given numerous reports that the experts and attorneys at the Antitrust Division have repeatedly been sidelined by leadership at the Justice Department, including when settling the Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Juniper Networks merger, forgoing a routine investigation into the real estate brokerage merger between Compass and Anywhere, and most recently, discussions about settling the case to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster. When members of the Senate Judiciary Committee raised concerns about these issues, the Justice Department failed to respond. Indeed, one prominent lobbyist for Live Nation-Ticketmaster boasted that he directly recommended the firing of Gail Slater and posted "good riddance" on social media in response to her announcement.

These actions raise serious questions as to the Justice Department's commitment to enforcing the antitrust laws based on the objective application of the law and the facts of any given case. Instead, it appears that Justice Department leadership is undermining dedicated antitrust enforcers work to protect consumers and small businesses. We have significant concern that the facts and law regarding a specific merger or anticompetitive conduct may be less important than a company's ability to exert influence.

Given the timing of Ms. Slater's resignation-only weeks prior to the trial in the case to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster-we are especially concerned about Live Nation-Ticketmaster's attempts to evade responsibility by convincing Justice Department leadership to settle the case on terms favorable to the company, rather than fans, artists, and independent venues. Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roger Alford warned of exactly this after he was fired, asking if the Live Nation-Ticketmaster case may be "the next casualty" because the company had hired a "bevy of cozy MAGA friends" to lobby the Justice Department.

So that the Senate may understand the circumstances regarding Gail Slater's departure less than a year after her bipartisan confirmation, we request you provide the following:

The dates of each meeting with any representatives of Live Nation-Ticketmaster and the individuals present from the Justice Department, White House, or Live Nation-Ticketmaster for each meeting.

• A description of the topics discussed at each meeting.

• All communications with Live Nation-Ticketmaster, its representatives, or the White House regarding the potential settlement of the monopolization case currently pending against the company.

• All communications discussing the potential dismissal of Ms. Slater, including with the White House and lobbyists for Live Nation-Ticketmaster or any other outside firm.

• All communications discussing the potential dismissal of Ms. Slater's deputies, including Mark Hamer, Roger Alford, and Bill Rinner.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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