Assefi says the egg producers stopped competing and were coordinating
Omeed AssefiFormer acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division
Omeed Assefi, who led the Justice Department probe, says the producers reached a point where they no longer wanted to compete and were coordinating to ensure outcomes that benefited them and not the consumer.
“They reach a point where they no longer want to compete, and they’re coordinating to ensure outcomes that benefit all of them and then don’t benefit the consumer,”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Did Cal-Maine and other egg producers manipulate egg-price benchmarks?
The Justice Department and 17 states allege that major egg producers coordinated bids to inflate Urner Barry price quotations. Cal-Maine denies wrongdoing and says its communications did not affect egg prices. The filed complaint and proposed settlement do not resolve the disputed facts by trial.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
POLITICO interviewed Assefi about the egg-pricing investigation he had led. The article was published October 18.
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POLITICO reports that when Trump took power, Justice Department lawyers identified the egg investigation as a "righteous" case they wanted to pursue. It quotes Assefi, who led the probe as acting assistant attorney general.
After the quotation
He says that is hard to reconcile with capitalistic, competitive pushing, and POLITICO reports he said the Trump administration "injected a lot of energy and life" into the investigation.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Assefi criticizes the alleged coordination as a departure from competition that harms consumers.
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Read the full caseLincicome questions the economic importance of alleged egg-price coordination
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Woodward says DOJ must step in when it sees commodity-market manipulation
“The manipulation of prices in the commodities market is not a novel concept anymore, and it is incumbent upon the department when it sees the manipulation of commodity markets to step in,”Read statement
Food & Water Watch says DOJ's proposed egg settlement is not enough
Food & Water Watch
“The Department of Justice found that corporations like Cal-Maine engaged in price gouging of eggs - but they're giving them a slap on the wrist. Tell the DOJ that their proposed settlement is not enough, and corporate price gougers deserve consequences:”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Assefi says the egg producers stopped competing and were coordinating". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6186-omeed-assefi-who-led-the-justice-department-probe