Republican Lawmaker Criticizes Biden Administration’s Investigation of Gautam Adani

Washington, 8th January 2025: A prominent Republican lawmaker criticized the Biden Administration’s decision to investigate Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his companies, warning that such selective actions could jeopardize crucial international alliances.

In a letter sent to US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on January 7, Congressman Lance Gooden, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned the Justice Department’s decision to target foreign entities and its potential to damage America’s relationships with key partners like India. Gooden also expressed concerns about any connection between the investigation and financier George Soros.

“The Justice Department’s selective actions risk harming important alliances with key partners like India, a vital ally in the Asia-Pacific region,” Gooden stated. He urged the DOJ to focus on addressing domestic issues, such as violent crime and economic espionage, rather than pursuing foreign entities with limited relevance to US interests.

Gooden, a five-term Republican representative, emphasized that targeting companies investing heavily in the US economy and creating jobs would only harm the country in the long term. He added that such actions might discourage potential investors and hinder efforts to revive America’s industrial base and economic growth.

Noting that the investigation’s timing coincided with the end of the Biden administration, Gooden raised concerns that it could be politically motivated, aimed at disrupting the incoming Trump administration. He urged the DOJ to focus on more pressing domestic matters instead of initiating politically charged investigations abroad.

Gooden also questioned the DOJ’s approach to the Adani case, pointing out that any alleged wrongdoing involved Indian officials and executives with no apparent connection to the US. He compared this to the Smartmatic case, where American executives were accused of bribing foreign governments, yet no action had been taken against American individuals.

He further inquired about the DOJ’s strategy if India refuses to comply with any extradition requests related to the Adani investigation, questioning whether the US would escalate the issue into an international dispute with a key ally like India.