The novel coronavirus could slow investigations into corporate wrongdoing by prosecutors, regulators and federal agents as shelter-in-place orders and other restrictions force delays to crucial steps in their work, the Wall Street Journal reported. Some investigative activities, including ones requiring travel or face-to-face meetings, are taking more time, and that could raise concerns for time-sensitive cases, said Daniel Kahn, a senior deputy chief in the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal fraud section. “The most difficult part of this is doing in-person interviews,” Kahn said. He added that getting documents from overseas also is proving more difficult than usual. “For the most part we are finding ways to do that,” he said. “It just sometimes can be a little bit slower.” By contrast, much of the government’s investigative work, such as issuing subpoenas, executing email search warrants, reviewing documents and meeting with defense counsel can be done remotely and is continuing as normal, Kahn said.
