Officials Opt for Cut-Price Penalty For Big Tobacco

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Department of Justice lawyers prosecuting major tobacco companies on racketeering charges have sought only $10 billion for a five-year smoking cessation program. In earlier expert testimony the campaign had been costed at $130 billion over 25 years. The Los Angeles Times reports that a source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision to seek a cut-price penalty was "forced on the tobacco team by higher-level, politically appointed officials of the Justice Department," including Associate Attorney General Robert McCallum. Before working for the DOJ McCallum was a partner in the law firm Alston & Bird, which had worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Democrats Henry Waxman and Martin Meehan have written to the DOJ Inspector, General Glenn A. Fine, seeking an investigation into the allegations. The DOJ's "approach to tobacco litigation should be based on the facts of the case and not political favors to the tobacco industry," they wrote.