House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has raised alarm bells over a potential conflict of interest involving a top Google attorney who is simultaneously working on the tech giant’s defense in a high-profile antitrust case and advising Vice President Kamala Harris on her presidential debate prep.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jordan expressed concerns about Karen Dunn, a lead attorney defending Google in the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit, United States v. Google LLC. According to recent reports, Dunn is also leading Harris’s debate preparations ahead of her matchup with former President Donald Trump.
Jordan’s letter highlights the potential conflict of interest, citing evidence of the Biden-Harris Administration’s alleged pressure on Google to censor lawful speech. “In light of existing evidence that the Biden-Harris Administration pressured and colluded with Google to censor the lawful speech of American citizens, we write to request a briefing about how the Department of Justice is working to combat potential conflicts of interest and political bias in United States v. Google LLC,” Jordan wrote.
The letter further notes that Dunn’s dual role raises serious concerns about whether her relationship with key figures in the Biden-Harris Administration could inappropriately bias the Department’s approach in the antitrust case. “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 continues.
Jordan’s inquiry seeks to shed light on the Department of Justice’s efforts to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality in the high-stakes antitrust case.
