A federal judge rejected Boeing’s plea deal connected to a criminal fraud charge related to the 737 Max crashes. The judge expressed concerns that the government-appointed monitor, a condition of the plea deal, would include diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Victims’ families criticized the plea deal, calling it a “sweetheart deal,” and demanded real accountability from Boeing. The plea deal was intended to allow Boeing to avoid a trial as the company was trying to recover from a safety crisis earlier in the year. The Justice Department recommended a fine of up to $487.2 million, but following a violation of a previous plea agreement, the final fine was reduced to $243.6 million. The judge questioned what Boeing had done to breach the previous agreement. The court has given Boeing and the Justice Department 30 days to decide how to proceed. The judge emphasized the need for the public to have confidence that the monitor selection is based solely on competency rather than race-based considerations. Overall, the plea deal faces renegotiation to incorporate more stringent terms that are commensurate with the seriousness of Boeing’s crimes.
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