Senators Hassan, Whitehouse Continue to Press for 2006 Purdue Pharma Prosecution Memo Following New Guardian Reporting

WASHINGTON – Today, The Guardian published additional details about a 2006 Department of Justice memo laying out federal prosecutors’ strong criminal case against Purdue Pharma. The Guardian’s reporting discusses crimes that Purdue Pharma allegedly committed, the evidence that the Department of Justice had against Purdue Pharma, and the Department of Justice’s decision to settle instead of prosecuting Purdue Pharma.

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have repeatedly called for the release of the memo and related documents, including ones that detail the role that Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials played in the deliberations. The Senators are reiterating their call today.

“Purdue Pharma's actions helped fuel the opioid epidemic that has devastated countless American families – and the Department of Justice could have helped to stop Purdue Pharma in its tracks more than a decade ago. The Guardian’s reporting underscores the importance of understanding the Department of Justice's decision-making in 2006 and beyond, and the Department must comply with Congressional oversight by turning this memo and related documents over to Congress. The public ought to know if Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials convinced the Department to let their client off the hook with a slap on the wrist. We must get to the bottom of Purdue Pharma’s actions, why the Department of Justice failed to take stronger action, and how Purdue Pharma contributed to the opioid epidemic that we have today,” said Senators Hassan and Whitehouse.

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