In a shocking display of blatant disregard for justice, the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has allowed Boeing to escape a potentially disastrous criminal trial. This comes after Boeing’s admission of guilt in the criminal fraud conspiracy charges linked to the horrific 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to the tragic loss of 346 innocent lives.
Boeing has been conveniently let off the hook with a measly fine of $243.6 million, making the total penalty a laughable $487.2 million. This is nothing short of a slap on the wrist for such an egregious act of negligence.
As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, despite recommendations from U.S. prosecutors to press criminal charges against Boeing for violating a settlement agreement, the Biden Administration’s DOJ seems more inclined to offer another deferred prosecution agreement.
This is yet another example of how the Biden regime is willing to overlook serious violations when it suits them. The decision to avoid prosecuting Boeing due to it being too “legally risky” is a clear indication of their lack of commitment to justice and accountability.
Instead of taking a strong stance, officials are opting for what they perceive as a quicker and more efficient solution – appointing an independent watchdog to oversee safety and quality control procedures at Boeing, as reported by the Times.
Boeing was previously protected from criminal charges under a 2021 agreement that required them to revamp their compliance practices and submit regular reports. In return, the DOJ agreed not to prosecute Boeing over allegations of defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, Boeing failed to uphold its end of the bargain, showing a complete disregard for U.S. fraud laws.
In an attempt to avoid a lengthy and costly criminal trial, Boeing was able to negotiate a new plea deal late Sunday night to settle the US criminal investigation into the fatal 737 MAX crashes.
The DOJ filing states that “the Government and The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a proposed plea agreement.”
This plea agreement includes an additional fine of $243.6 million, effectively requiring Boeing to pay double the amount previously agreed upon under the Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
The fatal crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 exposed serious flaws in the design and certification of the 737 MAX’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). These flaws were linked to Boeing’s alleged misstatements to the FAA, misleading regulators about the safety of the aircraft.
As part of this plea agreement, Boeing will be held accountable for its fraudulent activities by agreeing to:
- Guilty Plea: Plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
- Criminal Fine: Pay a statutory maximum fine of $243.6 million, doubling its pecuniary gain from the offense. This fine is in addition to the same amount already paid under the previous DPA, bringing the total penalty to $487.2 million.
- Probation and Compliance Measures: Be subject to probation, including the appointment of an independent compliance monitor for three years, to ensure adherence to rigorous safety and compliance standards. Boeing must invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs over this period.
- Restitution: The court will determine restitution for the victims’ families at its discretion. However, it does not include restitution for Boeing’s airline customers who purchased the 737 MAX.
The proposed plea agreement is expected to be filed with the court by July 19, 2024.
According to AP, “The company’s guilty plea will be entered in U.S. District Court in Texas. The judge overseeing the case, who has criticized what he called “Boeing’s egregious criminal conduct,” could accept the plea and the sentence that prosecutors offered with it or he could reject the agreement, likely leading to new negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing.”
Read the filing below:
Source: The Gateway Pundit
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