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A handful of Democrats called an informal hearing on Capitol Hill on Monday to criticize the “frivolous” and “pathetic” settlement the Justice Department reached with Live Nation-Ticketmaster, and preview how they might pursue the Trump administration’s antitrust deals if they regain congressional power in November.
While the Ministry of Justice colony With Live Nation, which came a week after the trial and promised up to $280 million, meeting significant opposition, Democrats currently do not have the power in either chamber to set committee agendas. That meant Monday’s so-called shadow session looked different from most formal proceedings. Instead of sitting on high chairs behind the podium, lawmakers sat at tables below, at eye level with witnesses, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, one of the prosecutors continuing to fight against Live Nation-Ticketmaster, ousted Trump administration antitrust official Roger Alford, and several entertainment industry players, including a member of the band The Hold Steady. Many artists who were asked to appear at the forum declined out of fear for their livelihoods, according to House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who co-hosted the forum with the Senate Permanent Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
While their statements will not be formally recorded in the Congressional Record, the forum gave Democrats a way to air their concerns, which included that the Justice Department deal was the result of undue corporate influence. “This is no small game,” Raskin told reporters. “Corruption permeates the administration so much that we have to start building the record because it is an uphill task. We will use the results of all these shadow hearings to figure out where to go.” As a sign of the forum’s importance, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered an opening statement to kick off the forum.
“Corruption is so pervasive in the administration that we have to start building the record because it is an arduous task.”
The lawmakers pointed to the states A resounding victory in the jury’s verdict As proof that Ministry of Justice settlement It fell far short of what a good faith deal would include, accusing it of being the result of corruption. on The ruling form is 11 pages longjurors selected “yes” on each question about whether the states had proven their claims. The Justice Department has stood by its deal as a win for consumers. The deal will still need to undergo Tony’s Law review, which is intended to ensure it is in the public interest.
Judges are usually loathe to reject a settlement, which is why Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) decided Proposed legislation To enhance the standard. But Alford, who was Expelled from the Ministry of Justice and Talk later On opposing the influence of lobbyists in antitrust deals, he said this may be the rare case in which a judge might reject the DOJ agreement, given that the same judge is now tasked with finding appropriate remedies to resolve Live Nation’s monopoly, including a possible breakup.
“Abstraction, it’s the nuclear option.”
Bonta said the states’ breakup request, expected to be formally filed this week, could go beyond the separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. They are also considering requesting at least a partial divestment of parts of Live Nation’s venue or artist management businesses. “Divestment, it’s the nuclear option. We think it’s justified, but we want to think carefully about how we ask this judge for the appropriate treatment,” he told reporters.
“The views shared yesterday misrepresent how the live events industry operates,” Dan Wall, executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs at Live Nation, said in a statement. “Secondary ticketing and high-demand sales are industry-wide challenges that exist across every promoter, venue and ticketing platform. That’s exactly why Live Nation and Ticketmaster have long supported industry-wide resale reform, including price caps and stronger consumer protections, while continuing to invest in tools that help artists manage demand and protect fans.”
The living nation has He promised to appeal The jury rules, and even before that happens, the judge could deny the states the full extent of the relief they are seeking. But Monday’s forum showed that even if that happens, Democrats will likely remain focused on how to reach the deal in the first place.
