UAW President Shawn Fain Denies Corruption Allegations

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain issued a statement on Sunday defending himself against a Department of Justice corruption investigation. Washington Examiner reported that the probe centers on allegations Fain pressured a union official to approve financial benefits for his fiancée and a workers’ compensation claim for her sister.

Neil Barofsky, appointed by a federal court in 2021 as the independent monitor for the UAW, released a report last month that substantiated claims of improper conduct.

Barofsky wrote that the investigation confirmed Fain acted improperly to obtain benefits for his fiancée and that Vice President Rich Boyer’s refusal to approve a bonus may have led to retaliatory action against him. Fain denied the accusations and stated that Boyer was removed as lead negotiator with Stellantis because he was not performing well for members.

In the Sunday statement Fain accused Boyer of feeding false allegations to Barofsky in an effort to influence the upcoming UAW election.

“Let’s be clear about what’s going on here: Rich Boyer has fed the monitor false allegations about me and is now trying to weaponize these bogus allegations to steal the upcoming UAW election,” Fain wrote. ” Fain also accused Barofsky of holding a political grudge tied to the UAW’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Gina Balaya, spokeswoman for the U.S.

Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, said Department of Justice policy prevents confirming or denying the existence of an investigation. Barofsky previously served as special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program after appointment by former President George W. Bush.