Vice President Kamala Harris is facing scrutiny over a possible conflict of interest related to the Department of Justice’s ongoing lawsuit against Google. Concerns were raised after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) asked Attorney General Merrick Garland for a formal briefing based on allegations that a prominent attorney defending Google in the lawsuit is also assisting the vice president in preparing for her upcoming debate against former President Donald Trump.
The investigation adds another challenge for Harris as she maneuvers through an already turbulent political landscape in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Fox News has obtained a letter from Jordan to Garland, which raises concerns about the intersection of the Justice Department’s antitrust case and the political involvement of Karen Dunn, Google’s lead attorney. Dunn, who has played a key role in Google’s defense, is also reportedly assisting Harris in preparing for her upcoming high-stakes debate on Tuesday. This controversy has fueled Republican apprehensions about Big Tech’s influence and possible collusion with the Biden-Harris Administration.
Jordan’s letter highlighted concerns that Dunn’s dual role might introduce political bias into the lawsuit, especially given the Justice Department’s assertive approach toward Google’s alleged anticompetitive practices. Jordan, together with the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, expressed worries that this situation could compromise the integrity of the DOJ’s case. The letter emphasized that Dunn’s dual roles as both Google’s legal advisor and a political advisor to Harris could also blur ethical boundaries.
“On the day that President Biden announced his intent to nominate you as Attorney General, you pledged to ‘guarantee the independence of the Department from partisan influence,’” Jordan wrote in his letter. “This assertion is hard to square with reporting that Ms. Dunn is leading debate preparations for Vice President Harris while she also leads Google’s defense against a Biden-Harris Administration lawsuit.”
Jordan’s letter expressed concerns that the Biden-Harris Administration may have used its influence to pressure tech companies, including Google, into censoring speech. He referenced reports suggesting that the administration has collaborated with Big Tech to suppress conservative viewpoints, warning that this development could worsen an already troubling trend.
The Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Google, which was filed last year, accuses the tech giant of using its market power in online search and advertising to hinder competition. This case is part of a broader effort by Republicans to address Big Tech’s influence through high-profile antitrust lawsuits. However, the potential conflict of interest involving Dunn could undermine the DOJ’s credibility in pursuing this case.
Jordan called for a briefing from Garland on how the DOJ plans to handle this apparent conflict of interest. He requested that the department provide details by September 24 on how it is working to “combat potential conflicts of interest and political bias” in its lawsuit against Google. “Given this potential conflict of interest, we request a briefing on how the Department of Justice is working to combat this and other potential conflicts of interest and political bias in United States v. Google LLC,” the letter said.
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