German prosecutors search offices of Jones Day, firm hired by Volkswagen for internal probe
Volkswagen is blasting Munich prosecutors for searching the offices of Jones Day on Wednesday.
Volkswagen said the search of the law firm, hired for its internal investigation into emissions cheating, was “unacceptable in every respect.” USA Today and Reuters have stories.
The search was conducted amid questions about whether certain top Volkswagen executives were responsible for the scandal, according to USA Today.
Volkswagen gave a summary of the Jones Day report to the Department of Justice but did not release the full findings. The report found wrongdoing by certain high-level executives but exonerated members of the management board, according to Reuters.
Volkswagen pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and the automaker’s U.S. customers by using software to cheat on emissions tests. Six German corporate executives have been indicted here. In addition, the company agreed to pay a $15.3 billion civil settlement in the United States and to pay $4.3 billion in criminal and civil penalties.
A Jones Day spokesperson did not immediately respond to an ABA Journal email seeking comment. The law firm declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.