Comer Requests Transcribed Interviews with FTC Officials Related to Commission’s Abuse of Power

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is today furthering the Committee’s investigation into the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding concerns that the FTC is abusing its power, disregarding the rule of law, undermining due process, and ignoring federal ethics law. In a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, Chairman Comer requests transcribed interviews from five FTC officials with critical knowledge of the FTC’s policies, procedures, and activities related to the Committee’s concerns.

“The Committee wrote to you on June 1, 2023, and on occasions thereafter seeking documents and information related to our concerns. The Commission has produced documents on a rolling basis in response to some of these requests, but it has refused to provide documents in response to others and the documents the FTC has provided do not fully address the Committee’s concerns,” Chairman Comer wrote.

Since June 2023, the Oversight Committee has requested documents and communications from the FTC to understand concerns related to abuses of power, collusion with foreign officials and other improper conduct in the merger review process, and other matters.

“The Committee is also concerned about the policies and guidance that the FTC has used, which appears intended to undermine the decades-old consumer welfare standard.  The Commission should be working to ensure what is best for consumers is achieved, not intervening on behalf of favored competitors or pursuing ideological goals,” Chairman Comer continued. “We are concerned this is undermining consumers’ and others’ confidence in the Commission’s ability to ensure the integrity of the American marketplace.”

Read the letter to FTC Commissioner Lina M. Khan here.