Lawmakers said the letter comes after reports that former assistant antitrust attorney Gail Slater wanted to conduct an expanded review of the merger to consider any potential anticompetitive effects. However, reports say Compass and its lawyers appealed to Slater’s administration, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, telling his office that any antitrust issues could be resolved without a full investigation.
Failure to review raises questions of corruption
“This decision raises questions about the corruption under your watch and its impact on the housing affordability of American families,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “Allowing these mergers will make it easier for these companies to control the housing market, limit consumer access and choice and ultimately exacerbate the housing crisis that has put homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans.”
Lawmakers argue that because of the potential impact on costs and markets, the merger should undergo an “indirect” review process “especially in cases like the Compass-Anywhere merger, where the merger could increase the risk of reduced competition, transparency and higher housing costs for millions of Americans.”
“The pattern of truth reported in the Compass-Anywhere deal is deeply disturbing, indicating that it may be another example of well-connected industry lobbyists gaining insider access to senior Trump Administration DOJ officials, and using this access to distort the antitrust process in order to obtain approval of an anticompetitive merger that will reduce competition and harm the public,” the letter said.
Lawmakers continue to say that the standard review process used to evaluate mergers appears not to have been followed when it came to the Compass-Anywhere merger.
Should the DOJ look elsewhere?
The letter discusses reports that senior DOJ leaders cleared the merger without a thorough review, despite Slater’s calls for an expanded investigation.
“This permission of Blanche came after Compass hired Mike Davis, a [President Donald] A Trump-affiliated lawyer who has been involved in other merger review disputes, to help secure the approval of the Compass-Anywhere merger, and reporting suggests that Davis ‘helped Compass present its case to Blanche’s office,’ contributing to the acceleration of the approval timeline. “
Lawmakers argue that a corrupt review and quick cancellation of these mergers would “exacerbate the housing crisis” and set “a dangerous precedent that invites political interference in merger review and undermines the antitrust laws put in place by Congress to protect competition and protect the American people.”
Slater is leaving the DOJ
In addition to their concerns about the merger, lawmakers also discussed Slater’s recent departure from the DOJ. Last week, Slater announced he was stepping down as DOJ’s antitrust chief. In the mail at XSlater wrote that it was with “great sadness and endless hope” that he left his role as assistant attorney general for anti-trust. Slater called serving in this position “the honor of a lifetime.”
In a statement, Bondi wrote that the DOJ thanked Slater for his work in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division “working to protect consumers, promote affordability and expand economic opportunity.”
Despite Bondi’s public statement, the lawyer’s filing says Davis “bragged, ‘I admired him.’ [Slater’s] to rent. And his shooting[,]’ and announced a ‘good riddance’ minutes after his departure became public.”
Because of their concerns, the lawmakers asked the DOJ to answer several questions in writing by March 4, 2026.
The questions ask that the DOJ provide detailed information about its merger review, including when the Hart-Scott-Rodino filing was filed, what competing concerns were identified and whether additional investigations were considered. They also want to understand who made and communicated the decision not to proceed with further action, the roles of senior DOJ officials and any outsiders, and whether any communication occurred outside of normal review channels. Finally, questions address protections against undue influence, DOJ’s commitment to fair and consistent merger enforcement and the circumstances surrounding Assistant Attorney General Slater’s departure.
The signatories along with the letter include Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D – Minn.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Sen. Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz-D. Texas Rep.), Delear Rep. (D-Pa.), Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Rep. Seth. Rep. Jerry. Bonnie Watson Coleman (DN.J.).
Compass did not immediately return HousingWire’s request for comment on the letter.
This is not the first time Senator Warren has expressed concern about the Compass-Anywhere merger. In a letter sent to federal regulators in December, Senator Warren and Senator Wyden argued that the buyout could harm consumers by contributing to higher brokerage fees and reducing access to real estate listings.
