Should They? Senate Considers Criminal Charges Against Present And Former GM Officials For Cover Up

A Senate panel today raised the prospect of criminal prosecution and promised more hearings over General Motors’ failure to fix a defective ignition switch, as GM CEO Mary Barra withstood a scolding from lawmakers flummoxed by a lack of answers.

Members of the Senate Commerce Committee's consumer protection panel said future hearings will likely seek to question former GM officials who were in charge during the years that the faulty ignition switch -- now tied to 13 deaths -- was left in 2.6 million mid-2000s cars without a recall until February.

“I think we need to hear from people who had the key positions at GM who perhaps had knowledge of this,” Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., said.

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Runamukk - 4/3/2014 10:31:47 AM

+3 Boost

Politicians sure are quick to want criminal charges on anyone but themselves.

Agent009 - 4/3/2014 11:11:34 AM

-3 Boost

Oh yes... But in Toyota and GM they calculated the costs and chose money over lives.

At least Toyota was smart enough to cover it all up so well that criminal charges are impossible. GM probably isn't that smart.

TheSteve - 4/3/2014 1:24:49 PM

+5 Boost

Re: 009's and other's allegations of a Toyota cover-up...

CSIs found no evidence of a defect in Toyota vehicles that could have caused the alleged unintended acceleration. Ditto with multiple government inquiries, and even friggin' NASA's rocket scientist brainiacs! Yet the DOJ is certain a defect existed (exists?) in Toyota's vehicles. Their proof? None. Well, except the alleged Toyota cover-up is so thorough and absolute, that it managed to hide all evidence of the alleged flaw.

Just like with Audi's alleged unintended acceleration debacle, the fault is the same: "Pedal misapplication" (AKA the driver *believed* they were standing on the brake pedal when they were standing on the accelerator).

When someone's "proof" of something is the lack of proof, I file that in the same round cabinet with the Ancient Alien beliefs.

Chark - 4/3/2014 12:41:07 PM

+2 Boost

They also need to pay reparations to all buyers of Cobalts, whether they had any problems or not. Their trade-in value is now a fraction of what it would normally be.

I'm sure the NHTSA has some people guilty of aiding in the coverup.

MrEE - 4/3/2014 6:45:32 PM

+1 Boost

White-collar crime, absolutely. The question is should it be premeditated murder.

mini22 - 4/4/2014 11:42:40 PM

+1 Boost

But are we talking about the "old" GM or the "new" GM? Or are we talking about the engineers and finance guys that made the decisions on this ignition switch. How much responsible is the post bankruptsy (new GM)company? If there was still evidence of not wanting to look into this problem then the "new" GM bears some responsibility.However though that would really be Dan Akerson and crew,and not Mary Bara. She may have been with GM for a long time. However, GM was a huge company back in those days.She cannot be expected to bare really any responsibility personaly. However if those same engineers and money men are still within the GM organization they need to 1) Be fired and 2)be indicted.

MrEE - 4/5/2014 8:16:15 AM

+1 Boost

The new GM still sat on this for years and likely deaths continued over this time. Since 2002, some involved took buyouts or new jobs, but the paper trail should id many. Whether the decision makers are with GM or not they should be called out. I doubt this came down to just one decision maker, but initially involved low level managers hiding the issue then went to all levels in the over 12+ years.