Press Releases

Washington, D.C. ­– Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) led his colleagues in penning a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting updated procedures for the disqualification of commissioners in an effort to maintain public confidence in the FTC. Chair Lina Khan refused to recuse herself from a high-profile FTC case, despite decades of precedent and in-house ethics officials urging recusal. The Commission’s Democrat majority voted along party lines to allow the Chair’s participation, and these actions ultimately led to the lone Republican on the Commission, Christine Wilson, to resign from her post.

This letter urges the FTC to initiate rulemaking to reform its recusal process once the Commission returns to its full strength with Commissioners from both parties.

“My colleagues in Congress have expressed serious concerns about the Commission’s handling of recusal questions in the Meta/Within Case. Therefore, once the Commission returns to its full body with members from both political parties, we recommend that the FTC undertake a rulemaking effort to reform its recusal process,” the Members wrote.

“It is imperative that the FTC correct their recusal standards and procedures in order to maintain public confidence in the FTC’s integrity.”

“We agree that the FTC’s recusal process suffers from a lack of clarity around recusal standards, lack of transparency about how Commissioners reach recusal decisions, and the lack of timing obligations,” the Members continued. “We urge the Commission to revise the recusal rules to formalize longstanding agency practices that promote accountability and transparency.”

The letter was led by Congressman Nathaniel Moran and co-signed by Representatives Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) and Harriet Hageman (R-WY).

Read the full letter here.  

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