DOJ Should Take Boeing Criminal Case to Court

July 1, 2024

DOJ Should Take Boeing Criminal Case to Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Justice reached an agreement with Boeing that would include a corporate monitor and a fine in exchange for a guilty plea to criminal charges. Families of the victims are opposed, calling it a "shameful sweetheart deal." Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, released the following statement:

"Corporations that kill should be held to the same standards as people who kill. The Justice Department should file all charges it can prove in court - up to and including, if the evidence supports it, manslaughter charges for the 346 lives lost in the 737 Max crashes.

"In 2021, the Trump Justice Department entered into a scandalous leniency agreement that failed to meet this standard of justice, enabling Boeing to escape criminal prosecution so long as it did not violate the law in the future. But Boeing was not able to do even that, giving the Biden Justice Department an opportunity to remedy the outrage of the 2021 deal.

"The reported agreement fails to deliver that justice. While it is welcome news that the DOJ reportedly has decided not to extend its disgracefully lenient deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing, and is instead insisting on filing criminal charges, a plea deal around a single claim of fraud does not meet the moment.

"The Department of Justice should listen to the families of victims of the crashes and bring tough criminal charges against Boeing."