The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a grand jury investigation into allegations against United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, including claims that he used his authority to benefit his fiancée and retaliated against a senior union member. The inquiry stems from reports by the federal watchdog overseeing the union.
Neil Barofsky, the monitor appointed to oversee the UAW, informed Fain and union member Rich Boyer last month that the DOJ had initiated the grand jury probe. The monitor's office had previously issued a report finding that Fain retaliated against Boyer and improperly used his position, though it deferred disciplinary action pending further review and did not initially cite the federal investigation.
In response to the probe, Fain has denied the monitor's findings, calling them "bogus." He stated that Boyer "fed the monitor false allegations" and suggested the monitor had a "political grudge" against him, partly due to the UAW's stance on the conflict in Gaza. Fain has also said he retained a law firm to contest the allegations.
The UAW has been under federal oversight since a 2020 settlement resolved a corruption scandal involving multiple union officials who were found to have embezzled funds. As part of that settlement, two former union presidents were sentenced to prison.
Fain is currently campaigning for a second four-year term as UAW president, with an election scheduled for later this year. Boyer is among the candidates challenging Fain's leadership.
The UAW declined to comment on the investigation. A lawyer representing the union stated that the union itself is not the subject of a grand jury investigation. Boyer and his attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the matter.