Washington – The internal friction with the justice department team that fights monopoly, has told about a personal interaction in the Trump administration whether some employees in the antitrust division have to push or work to smooth the issues, according to many sources familiar with the situation.
Gayle Slater, who took charge of cases against capital forest in March, Apple, Google And other major companies as the head of the Antitrest Division of the Department of Justice, still have the support of some top officials in the administration, but it has been aimed at criticizing all colleagues and business leaders in his team, the sources inside and outside the administration told CBS News.
Slater was asked to attend a meeting with other high-level administration officials at the White House on Thursday, two sources said. The meeting, expecting to focus on the policy of merger, will include the Budget and Management Office, National Economic Council and Federal Trade Commission.
Sources said that there has been friction when T-Mobile, Hewlet Packed Enterprise and others have been friction. The antitrust division is one of the two agencies that protects the markets by implementing the merger that harm consumers and the antitrust laws regulating commercial practices.
Slater, who entered his role in high relations in both the Maga Circle and the left-wound watchdog, did not adopt the block-harvest approach. But some Trump officials said that it had taken sufficient amount of internal push-end-pull to land on decisions to solve the merger issues, said three sources.
Sources said that questions have arisen in other corners of NEC, FTC, Federal Communications Commission and Administration whether the policies of President Trump are the priority of Slater, or whether she is creating her own policy agenda, the sources said.
Slater has also told companies not to try to join the administration through Trump-educated lobists and advisors, many sources said. Two sources said that disappointment with business leaders led by that tack to reach the White House officials wondered why they are being told who they can do, two sources said.
Sources said that in a meeting between antitrust officials, Hewlet Packard Enterprises and a software company, which he was demanding to acquire, Junipar Network, Slater told business parties that they should only work directly with the officials of the Department of Justice, not through external advisors. HPE advisors included Trump’s associates Mike Davis and Arthur Schartz, who were not in the room.
Sources said Attorney General Palm Bandy and his duties are aware of the tension with the antitrust division of some administration officials.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in January to stop the Hewlet Pacord Enterprise from purchasing a juniper, and the two sides prosecuted in June, paving the way for the closure of the acquisition.
But several sources said that Bondi’s Chief of Staff, Chad Mizle had to eliminate the slater to accept the offer of a Hewlet Pacord/Junipar, which was a better deal than what the government had done in the test.
Some administration officials clearly defended the slater in depth and well -known trump associates, who want to affect the consequences of confidential legal matters.
A source said that Slater repeatedly noted that it was confirmed by the Senate with 78 votes, more than the state secretary Maro Rubio than almost any other Trump officer – one belief that he is well worthy of the role.
FTC Commissioner Mark Meador told CBS News in a statement, “Gayle is a long -time friend and fellow experienced antitratist lawyer.” “She has been a great companion as FTC and DOJ works together to complete our shared mission.”
Some supporters of Slater mentioned that unlike the Biden administration, which used more and more time, as it could be legalized to investigate, the slater and his team voluntarily closed the investigation into a small window dozens of times.
Another source said that it has separated from other ways from the Biden Antitrest team’s point of view. For example, the Biden team was going to recommend and find the merger of Capital One, and Slater allowed it to be passed.
