Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul has co-led a group of 21 attorneys general in filing a brief to support two Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners. These commissioners are challenging an attempt by President Trump to dismiss them without cause.
The FTC has had a significant role for over a century in protecting Americans against scams and fraud, retrieving billions for consumers wronged by unfair practices. It is also pivotal in antitrust cases that protect against anti-competitive practices, often working closely with states, like the recent lawsuit filed by Illinois and others to halt the merger between Kroger and Albertsons.
“My office frequently partners with the FTC to take actions that protect consumers,” Raoul stated. “The bipartisan makeup of the FTC ensures that the commission serves all consumers, in Illinois and across the nation. I join my fellow attorneys general in support of the FTC’s current structure and its record of ensuring a safe and fair marketplace for law-aiding businesses and customers.”
Raoul and the attorneys general argue in their brief that the FTC's effective track record is largely due to its bipartisan leadership, which aids in informed decision-making and offers expertise that many state attorneys general depend on. They express concern that allowing President Trump to remove the commissioners would dismantle the FTC’s structure, compromising its mission. If given the authority to remove commissioners at will, the FTC might lose its independence and become subject to presidential political influence.
Illinois and the FTC have worked together on several matters, including a recent lawsuit to block GTCR BC Holdings LLC's acquisition of Surmodics Inc. Earlier, in January, Raoul teamed with the FTC in a lawsuit against Deere and Company over practices allegedly inflating equipment repair costs for farmers. In December 2024, a $25 million settlement was announced with Grubhub Inc. over alleged deceptive practices. Another proposed settlement of $20 million with Leader Automotive Group and AutoCanada was also revealed to resolve allegations of consumer fraud.
The brief was filed with support from the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.