Overview
- People familiar with the probes say Google and Verizon received Justice Department demands for documents on workplace diversity initiatives.
- Prosecutors are pursuing an implied certification theory that treats civil-rights compliance as material to obtaining or keeping federal money.
- Unlike typical False Claims Act cases sparked by whistleblowers, these inquiries were initiated by political appointees at the department.
- The reported sweep extends beyond tech to sectors such as automotive, defense, utilities, and pharmaceuticals.
- Legal experts describe the approach as unusual and potentially difficult to sustain in court, and some companies are reassessing policies as the DOJ declines public comment.