Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Antitrust whistleblower protection bill introduced in Senate, (Jun 18, 2015)

By Jeffrey May, J.D.

Bi-partisan legislation was re-introduced in the Senate yesterday to extend whistleblower protection for employees who provide information to the Department of Justice related to criminal antitrust violations. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sponsored the proposed “Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act” (S.1599).

The bill is aimed at protecting whistleblowers in criminal antitrust cases by prohibiting employers from retaliating against an employee who provides information to the Department of Justice regarding conduct that violates the criminal antitrust laws, according to its sponsors. It would allow an employee who believes he or she is the victim of retaliation to file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, and provides for that employee to be reinstated to their former status if the Secretary finds in their favor.

The Senate unanimously passed a similar version of the legislation (S. 42) in the last Congress. However, the bill was not taken up by the House.

In announcing the latest version of this legislation, Grassley suggested that the measure could act as “a real deterrent to those who are thinking about committing fraud in the future.” He suggested it would serve as “another tool in the toolbox to stop individuals who are looking at criminal antitrust activities.”

“Congress should encourage employees with information about criminal antitrust activity to report this information,” Leahy added. “I hope Congress will finally enact this legislation this year.”

News: Antitrust