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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
A coalition of conservative groups known for their anti-Big Tech work is urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Apple for perjury, per a letter shared exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: National conservative groups upping the antitrust pressure on Apple is another key indicator that Big Tech companies are not catching a break under the Trump administration.
Context: The request is related to the Epic Games v. Apple antitrust case, coming after U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said in a recent ruling that testimony from Apple executive Alex Roman was "replete with misdirection and outright lies."
- As Axios previously reported, Gonzalez Rogers ruled in April that Apple must stop levying 27% commissions on sales that take place when apps point users to websites beyond Apple's App Store.
- In that ruling, the judge also referred Apple's behavior to federal prosecutors to investigate whether to bring criminal contempt of court charges.
- Apple said it would comply with the ruling, but it would appeal.
What they're saying: "The DOJ can't let Big Tech executives think they can lie under oath with impunity just because they work for trillion-dollar companies," said Aiden Buzzetti, president of the Bull Moose Project.
- "If this were any other defendant in any other courtroom, they'd already be in handcuffs."
What's inside: "When a defendant like Apple exhibits repeated disregard for legal norms — including apparent misrepresentations to the court, failures to disclose key evidence, and defiance of judicial orders — we look to the Department to enforce accountability," the letter to Bondi reads, alleging that Apple has a pattern of misleading courts on antitrust matters.
- "Apple's ongoing resistance to judicial oversight suggests this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of contempt for the rule of law."
- The letter is signed by leaders from the Internet Accountability Project, the Article III Project, the Bull Moose Project, the Digital First Project, the American Principles Project and the Conservative Partnership Institute.
The other side: "As we've said, we strongly disagree with the Court's decision. Alex Roman has always conducted himself with honesty and integrity, and he is a deeply valued team member at Apple," an Apple spokesperson told Axios.
Zoom in: All signers have been pressing anti-Big Tech messages for years and have close connections to Trump administration officials at the FCC, FTC and DOJ.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Apple.
