US Democrats Start Probe Of Acting Attorney General, Company Accused Of Bilking Customers

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 14, 2018 | 09:12 PM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) US lawmakers have started an investigation into Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and his involvement with a company accused of stealing millions of Dollars from its customers, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, Jerrold Nadler, Frank Pallone, Jr., and Adam Schiff, the Ranking Members of the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, respectively, sent seven letters requesting information relating to Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker's involvement with World Patent Marketing, a company that allegedly bilked millions from consumers and suppressed criticism of their activities," the release said.

Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shut down World Patent Marketing after accusing it of scamming its customers out of $26 million. According to the FTC, the company used bogus "success stories" to lure customers into paying the company thousands of dollars to patent their inventions.

But after the customers were strung along for months or sometimes years, the company never delivered what it promised, and threatened people who complained with criminal prosecution, according to the FTC.

The FTC and World Patent Marketing agreed to a nearly $26 million settlement in the case.

Court records filed by the FTC in the case including documents showing that Whitaker was paid $9,375 by the company and played a direct role in threatening some customers.

The lawmakers have sent a series of letters requesting briefings and documents from Whitaker, as well as the former founder and CEO of World Patent Marketing Scott Cooper, the FTC, and others, the release said.

Last week, Sessions resigned at US President Donald Trump's request.� Trump said Whitaker would serve as acting attorney general until he Names a permanent replacement.