DOJ opens probe into allegations against United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain

DETROIT — The Department of Justice is probing ​allegations that United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain took actions to improperly benefit his fiancée and retaliated against another ‌senior union member who objected to the actions, according to internal union documents reviewed by Reuters.The lead counsel for the federal watchdog appointed to oversee union activities informed Fain and the senior union member, Rich Boyer, last month that the DOJ had initiated a grand jury investigation into matters detailed in the monitor’s reports, including ​those involving Fain and his fiancée.The monitor’s office, led by New York attorney Neil Barofsky, issues periodic reports about the ​union’s inner workings.Fain, who has denied the monitor’s findings and called the allegations outlined by the monitor “bogus,” is ⁠campaigning for a second four-year term as the leader of the union, and an election is scheduled for later this year.

Boyer is one ​of a handful of candidates opposing Fain.The monitor issued a report last month finding that Fain had retaliated against Boyer and improperly used his authority, ​including in ways that would benefit his fiancée, but deferred a decision on disciplinary action pending further review without citing the federal probe.“We are not publishing the details of our factual findings on this issue at this time out of deference to a Grand Jury investigation DOJ has initiated into that issue,” the monitor’s lead ​counsel wrote in a June 18 email reviewed by Reuters.“We do not intend to publicly disclose the existence of that investigation at this ​time,” he continued.Bloomberg earlier reported that the DOJ was probing allegations around Fain.

It is unclear how the investigation affects Fain’s candidacy.The UAW declined to comment.‌A lawyer ⁠representing the union said it is not the subject of a grand jury investigation.

Boyer and his attorney didn’t immediately respond to requests for comme...