In 2017, China’s ZTE Corp. agreed to the oversight of an independent monitor when it pleaded guilty to Justice Department charges of illegally exporting sensitive U.S. technologies to Iran and repeatedly lying to investigators. Now, that monitor, Dallas attorney James Stanton, is seeking to extend his own term beyond its expiration in March and threatening the Chinese telecommunications company if it refuses to agree.
Stanton previously certified ZTE’s compliance with the settlement agreement, but started pushing for the extension in June, alleging he had received evidence the company violated its agreement with the U.S. Stanton also suggested that he would leverage his close personal friendship with the judge in the matter to ensure that the monitorship continued. According to sources familiar with the dispute, ZTE attorneys and DOJ officials have viewed that language as inappropriate and potentially unethical.
Source:
- Wall Street Journal: Chinese Telecom Giant ZTE in Dispute With U.S. Court-Appointed Monitor
