Investigation finds no evidence of misconduct for ex-NHTSA workers

United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and President Barack Obama
United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and President Barack Obama

The Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General led a probe into the conduct of private sector automotive industry employees who were formerly in the employ of the NHTSA. The probe specifically was intended to determine whether such employees were abel to exercise improper pressure or influence on recall decisions.

The review was requested by two Senators after the surfacing of emails that brought the integrity of such individuals into question.

“Overall, we found no evidence suggesting undue influence or pressure on NHTSA’s employees conducting safety defect investigations, and NHTSA had adequate controls in place to ensure employees’ compliance with ethics requirements,” said the agency.

The review found there to be 63 employees who left the NHTSA for the private sector, or vice versa. Of that total, 15 have left the NHTSA in the past ten years, and are now working for automakers, or law firms that represent them.

By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Detroit News