Congressmen: E-mails Reveal Walmart CEO Was Repeatedly Informed of Bribery Scandal in 2005

At The Nation:

Two Democratic Congressmen today released internal Walmart documents which they said appear to directly contradict Walmart’s recent claims regarding alleged rampant bribery by its Mexico subsidiary. The documents include what appear to be seven year-old e-mails in which current Walmart CEO Mike Duke was directly informed of the scandal. At the time, Duke was serving as Walmart vice chairman, responsible for Walmart international.

“We are concerned that your company’s public statements that the company was unaware of the allegations appear to be inconsistent with documents we have obtained through our investigation,” representatives Henry Waxman and Elijah Cummings wrote in a letter to Walmart CEO Michael Duke released this morning. “Contrary to Wal-Mart’s public statements, the documents appear to show that you were personally advised of the allegations in October 2005.” Cummings and Waxman are the ranking Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee, respectively. Walmart did not immediately respond to the Nation’s request for comment.