DOJ Leaders Face Bipartisan Calls to Get Tougher on Executives

Two senior Justice Department officials defended their corporate crime enforcement progress Tuesday from senators in both parties insisting on tougher prosecution of executives and greater transparency into those efforts.

During a hearing to examine the department’s white-collar initiatives, Senate Judiciary Committee members pressed the heads of the national security and criminal divisions for details on why more executives aren’t imprisoned for corporate wrongdoing.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), citing 2022 Sentencing Commission figures, asked why DOJ only prosecutes individuals in 60% of the cases it brings against companies.

“We do try to do the most impactful cases, which can be complex, ...