HPE Lobbying Order Raises Heat for HP CEO Enrique Lores
A federal judge has ordered lobbyists tied to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Juniper Networks acquisition to disclose their communications with the US Department of Justice, intensifying scrutiny of the deal’s politically fraught approval.
The order, issued under the Tunney Act, targets behind-the-scenes lobbying that critics say influenced the DOJ’s decision to drop its lawsuit and clear the $14 billion merger. Lawmakers and state attorneys general have accused senior DOJ officials of sidelining career antitrust staff under political pressure.
The growing controversy is now rippling beyond HPE. According to people familiar with the situation, the escalating legal and political scrutiny has made the deal increasingly toxic for HP Inc. leadership, prompting CEO Enrique Lores to quietly distance himself as the kitchen grows too hot. With final approval still pending, the disclosure of lobbyist communications could further expose how corporate influence shaped one of the administration’s most contentious antitrust settlements.
