Former DOJ Antitrust Deputy Alleges Lobbyist Corruption in HPE-Juniper Merger

Roger Alford, the former principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, has publicly criticized senior DOJ leadership for allowing politically connected lobbyists to influence antitrust enforcement decisions, particularly regarding the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Juniper Networks merger. Alford, who was fired last month amid internal disputes, accused officials such as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s chief of staff Chad Mizelle and Associate Attorney General nominee Stanley Woodward of prioritizing personal and political interests over the rule of law and the President's antitrust agenda. He described an internal conflict between "MAGA reformers" and "MAGA-in-name-only lobbyists," alleging that some DOJ leaders enabled corrupt practices and undermined efforts to block or properly regulate the $14 billion merger. The controversy centers on the DOJ’s reversal from initially suing to block the merger to approving a settlement that allowed it to proceed with conditions, after intervention by Bondi’s chief of staff. Alford emphasized the need for policy and personnel changes to restore integrity and ensure a single tier of justice, warning that current leadership has compromised antitrust enforcement to favor lobbyist influence. He maintained that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was not involved in the scandal and portrayed him as a man of character navigating difficult circumstances.