The dieselgate scandal refuses to go away as several members of Congress are pushing for the company’s executives to be held accountable.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Representative Darrell Issa said “There is a growing sense executives need to be held accountable” as the government’s settlement with the automaker didn’t account for the “global conspiracy that we now understand.” As a result, Issa wants Porsche and Volkswagen executives to testify before Congress.
The California Republican said executives could be called to testify as early as April and noted he might compel their testimony if they refuse. Issa went on to say he’s troubled by the fact that senior Volkswagen executives haven’t been brought to justice and he wants to know how far the scandal reached.
Issa isn’t alone in his push for a new investigation as Representatives Steve King and Ron DeSantis sent a letter to Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller which questioned the company’s promise to be ethical and open about what executives knew.
While the letter was sent in December, it has taken on new meaning as a recent labor study found a majority of Volkswagen workers saw “no improvement” in the company’s culture. Another major setback occurred earlier this year when it was revealed the VW-funded European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector subjected monkeys to breathing in exhaust fumes from a Beetle TDI.
The outcome of the latest push remains to be seen but Issa noted “A criminal investigation is never over, until the statute of limitation hits.”
