Federal prosecutors are issuing grand jury subpoenas in connection with General Motors Co.'s years-long delay in responding to a deadly defect, as new documents raise questions about the auto maker's assessment of which employees were at fault, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Delphi Automotive PLC said that it has received a grand jury subpoena and turned over documents relating to the production and design of ignition switches used in 2.6 million GM cars built during the previous decade. Defects in those switches led to accidents in which air bags failed to deploy and at least 13 people died. GM had previously disclosed a Justice Department investigation, but the subpoenas are a sign that the probe is picking up steam. GM has already paid $35 million to settle charges that it violated federal auto safety regulations. However, a criminal investigation by a federal grand jury could pose a much larger threat. Toyota Motor Corp. in March paid $1.2 billion to settle a Justice Department criminal investigation of its mishandling of safety problems.
