Warren, Jayapal Accuse Google of Trying to 'Bully' DOJ Into Recusal

Google should abandon efforts to “bully” DOJ Antitrust Chief Jonathan Kanter into recusing himself from antitrust matters with the company, wrote Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to CEO Sundar Pichai Wednesday. The lawmakers cited a letter from Google arguing that Kanter's “extensive experience opposing Google in past antitrust matters should, paradoxically, disqualify him from representing the federal government on such matters.” None of the U.S. ethics standards would require Kanter to recuse himself, the lawmakers wrote: “Google should focus on complying with antitrust law rather than attempting to rig the system with these unseemly tactics.” A Google spokesperson cited a previous statement, arguing Kanter’s “past statements and work representing competitors who have advocated for the cases brought by the Department raise serious concerns about his ability to be impartial.” DOJ didn’t comment.