House Democrats Want Investigation Into Fake Public Comments on Rules

Four ranking House Democrats urged the DOJ and FBI to investigate fake public comments on proposed federal regulations, including DOL's fiduciary rule.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray, House Democrats warned "at least five agencies have been the target of falsely generated rulemaking comments," with DOL the latest to be affected. The signatories — Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) — are ranking members on the House Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, Oversight and Education and the Workforce committees, respectively.

"Immediate action is needed in order to restore public trust in the federal rulemaking process," they wrote. "We urge you to use the full investigative powers of the FBI and DOJ to promptly uncover who is behind this conduct and prosecute the parties under applicable federal law.”

DOL said it welcomed individuals to call a hotline if they believe a comment was fraudulently attributed to them.

"The Department of Labor removes fraudulent comments that are brought to its attention," said a DOL spokesperson. "There are criminal penalties for the submission of fraudulent statements or representations to the federal government."

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