Texas federal court rejects Boeing plea deal over 737 Max crashes, cites DEI concerns [Video]

A federal judge in Texas has rejected a plea agreement from Boeing related to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge connected to a Justice Department investigation into two deadly crashes of 737 Max Jetliners.

Judge Reed O’Connor in the Northern District of Texas expressed concern over the agreement’s use of diversity, equity and inclusion polices to guide the hiring of independent compliance monitors.

“While the Government assures the Court that the Government will consider all possible monitors (i.e., all backgrounds, etc.) but will choose a monitor solely based on merit and talent, the Court is skeptical of this assertion,” O’Connor wrote.

The order states Boeing and the government’s use of DEI directly undermines ethics and anti-fraud efforts and goes against the public interest.

The court was also concerned with the government’s ability to hire an independent monitor and ensure compliance.

Under the rejected plea deal, Boeing would have been required to keep the compliance monitor …