DOJ Antitrust Chief Exits Ahead of Live Nation Trial
▼ Summary
– Gail Slater, the Justice Department’s top antitrust enforcer, has resigned just weeks before a major monopoly trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster.
– Her departure follows a tenure marked by internal conflict, including the firing of two top deputies over a dispute involving lobbyists and a merger.
– Slater was reportedly sidelined from recent negotiations with Live Nation ahead of the trial, though the DOJ disputed this characterization.
– The internal strife involved clashes with senior officials and allegations that certain DOJ officials enabled lobbyists to act against the rule of law.
– The upcoming antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation is a significant case that could potentially dismantle the entertainment giant.
The head of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division has resigned just weeks before a landmark trial against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster is scheduled to begin. Gail Slater, who led the division, announced her departure on social media, thanking her staff and calling the role an honor. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement thanking Slater for her service but did not comment on the reasons behind the sudden exit or name an immediate successor. This development introduces significant uncertainty into one of the most high-profile monopoly cases in recent years, a lawsuit that seeks to fundamentally reshape the live events industry.
Slater posted from her personal account, stating, “It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today.” Her tenure, which began with bipartisan support following her nomination, was nevertheless characterized by notable internal conflict. Last year, two of her senior deputies were dismissed. The department cited insubordination, but one of those officials, Roger Alford, later publicly alleged that certain DOJ officials had enabled lobbyists he described as “MAGA-in-name-only,” accusing them of perverting justice and acting against the rule of law. The dispute reportedly centered on the approval of a major wireless networking merger.
Recent reports indicate Slater had been sidelined from direct negotiations with Live Nation executives and lobbyists as the trial date of March 2nd neared. According to those reports, senior Justice Department officials took over communications with the company. A department spokesperson previously challenged this narrative, calling it misinformation and asserting that Slater remained deeply involved in the confidential, ongoing matter. The impending trial accuses Live Nation-Ticketmaster of maintaining an illegal monopoly over live entertainment in the United States, alleging practices that stifle competition and harm consumers. The outcome could force a breakup of the entertainment conglomerate, which controls a vast network of venues, ticketing services, and artist management.
(Source: The Verge)
