Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and 23 fellow Democrats are formally asking the Justice Department to investigate allegations of collusion and price fixing among major oil companies.
The letter, addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter, comes a week after Schumer publicly pledged to take a leading role in holding Big Oil accountable for rising prices at the pump.
“The federal government must use every tool to prevent and prosecute collusion and price fixing that may have increased gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and jet fuel costs in a way that has materially harmed virtually every American household and business,” Schumer, of New York, and the other senators wrote.
“We therefore urge the Department of Justice … to investigate the oil industry, to hold accountable any liable actors, and to end any illegal activities.”
