Boeing Is Pushing To Withdraw Guilty Plea Agreement (msn.com)
- Reference: 0176811851
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/03/25/189245/boeing-is-pushing-to-withdraw-guilty-plea-agreement
- Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boeing-is-pushing-to-withdraw-guilty-plea-agreement/ar-AA1BzBQd
> The aerospace giant is seeking more lenient treatment from the Justice Department, which under the Trump administration is reviewing numerous pending criminal cases that haven't yet gone to trial or been approved by courts. Boeing nearly sealed its fate last year, agreeing in July to plead guilty to defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration. But a federal judge in Texas rejected the proposed deal in December, pushing the resolution beyond the Biden administration.
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> Now Boeing stands to benefit from fresh eyes at Trump's Justice Department, which is inclined to at least modify parts of the agreement, some of the people said. Allowing Boeing to rescind its plea agreement, or lightening the company's punishment, would mark one of the most prominent examples of the Trump administration's lighter-touch approach to some white-collar enforcement. There were 346 people [2]killed in the two 737 MAX crashes , in 2018 and 2019. The two sides are still negotiating how to propose changes to the deal, expected by April 11, to U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, who oversees the case. One possible change under discussion: whether Boeing can forgo hiring an outside monitor to ensure its compliance with the law, the people said.
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boeing-is-pushing-to-withdraw-guilty-plea-agreement/ar-AA1BzBQd
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/20/09/12/1923211/is-boeings-737-max-safe-now
Fine by me (Score:3)
Then it's off to court. Most often, pleas are made to get more lenient sentencing deals. If the case goes to trial, there could be criminal convictions*, bigger fines and prison time.
*There are laws on the books regarding procurement contracts with convicted criminal organizations. Boeing might as well kiss that F-47 goodbye.
Re: Fine by me (Score:4, Insightful)
You honestly think this administration will allow a large US corporation to take responsibility for negligence? Boeing will buy its way out with a campaign donation.
Re: (Score:2)
> Boeing will buy its way out with a campaign donation.
That's essentially what their plea agreement was. Withdraw that plea and the possibility of a court case will add quite a bit of uncertainty to their financial/legal position. Corporations hate uncertainty.
Re: (Score:3)
> That's essentially what their plea agreement was.
No, that's not even in the same realm of possibilities. The plea agreement was they are guilty, it can be proven and they know it. They are withdrawing the plea, because trump is a corrupt authoritarian. They will bribe him to curry favor. Quid pro quo.
> Corporations hate uncertainty.
They will withdraw a plea, certanity, to go to a trial, an uncertanity. It's almost like they are certain they can get a better outcome.
Re: (Score:2)
> Then it's off to court. Most often, pleas are made to get more lenient sentencing deals. If the case goes to trial, there could be criminal convictions, bigger fines and prison time.
I think the trial outcome will probably be determined by how thoroughly the current administration has undermined judges' impartiality when the case goes to trial, and by how deep Boeing's "discretionary spending" pockets prove to be.
Re: (Score:2)
>> Then it's off to court. Most often, pleas are made to get more lenient sentencing deals. If the case goes to trial, there could be criminal convictions, bigger fines and prison time.
> I think the trial outcome will probably be determined by how thoroughly the current administration has undermined judges' impartiality when the case goes to trial, and by how deep Boeing's "discretionary spending" pockets prove to be.
It's Judge Reed O'Connor, there is no impartiality to undermine.
Re: (Score:2)
> Then it's off to court.
Unlikely. Much more likely, the government will allow them to replace the current plea agreement with a new one that goes even easier on them.
Can't have a pesky guilty plea get in the way. (Score:5, Insightful)
> Now Boeing stands to benefit from fresh eyes at Trump's Justice Department, ...
Now that Trump has awarded the new F-47 fighter to Boeing.
Can't Boeing just ask for a pardon? It would be quicker and cheaper than a new trial. And Trump really likes giving those out to those he likes, or praise him (a lot), or try to overthrow the government for him (really, regardless of their crimes), especially with a little "donation". Maybe he'll feel that -- what's his go-to -- "Boeing's been treated very unfairly."
Re: (Score:3)
"______ has been treated very unfairly"
"______ is a disaster"
"If I was here ______ would have never happened"
Pretty much sums up 90% of his statements.
Re: (Score:2)
Outright pardons of corporate crime will have to wait until voting has been declared unconstitutional.
What is the freaking point (Score:2)
of having a justice system if companies can whine and threaten and get their way? Consumers have little or no protection against companies, in Boeing case they kill people and if they get away with murder then that would mean the justice system doesn't work. Down with corporate America need more consumer protection.
Lighter touch my ass (Score:4, Insightful)
"lighter-touch approach to some white-collar enforcement." Bullshit. It is the alleged administration welcoming white-collar corruption. All they need to do it follow the trail of chicken nuggets to la Presidenta's desk.
Re: (Score:2)
"Lighter-touch approach to some white-collar enforcement," translated into English means, "Soft on crime, as long as the crime is done by rich people." Which shouldn't surprise anyone, given the administration is led by a rich convicted criminal.
Nice (Score:2)
Forgiving mass-murder done out of greed is a very fascist thing to do. I have every confidence the current administration will do it.
Maybe Mr. Pumpkin head with give them a deal. (Score:2)
.... jesus.
QUID PRO QUO (Score:1)
Trump: I want my new Air Force One!
Boeing: Time and money and this is fixed-cost so it will take a while.
Trump: I'll give you the NGAD contract and Lockheed/Martin can stuff it
Boeing: We also want more SLS/ULA moneis
Trump: I want those planes in my dark high heat-absorbent bad-for-airframe colors too
Boeing: We want the DoJ to give us a do-over on that guilty plea
Trump [extends orange hand] and Boeing shakes it.
Amazing what you hear on Signal groups.
I mean all they have to do is bribe Trump (Score:1)
And maybe a federal judge or two. And that's all perfectly legal and allowed now because we are way too busy worrying about the hundreds of millions of trans girls that I am told exist to do anything about planes falling out of the sky
Why ? (Score:2)
Why isn't Monkey-Clown Corp asking Trump for a pardon instead? After all, corporations are people.
The gall of some people!
Boeing forgot about the entire rest of the world? (Score:2)
If the rest of the world becomes dissatisfied with American justice, they might just do something about it. There are 193 UN member nations, Boeing is potentially opening up 192 cans of legal worms with this move.
Too Big To Fail (Score:3)
To be honest, we have to cut them slack. We need an alternative to Airbus. For example, what would happen if Boeing bellied up and we couldn't get Airbus plane parts because EU sanctioned them because our President snapped in the noodle and invaded one of their territories?
Purely hypothetical, of course.
right time for it (Score:5, Insightful)
time to up the gratuity payments
Re: (Score:3)
I have no mods, but this is what I fully believe.
Re: (Score:2)
> time to up the gratuity payments
Every boeing plane will come with a trump donation (bribery) fee.