[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement today after former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn was charged with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government as part of a multi-year effort to circumvent emissions standards:

“Today’s charges confirm that VW’s scheme to defraud consumers and pollute our environment was known by those at the very top, including the CEO. Holding individual top executives culpable is critical to effectively halt wrongdoing and deter future misconduct. Today’s action should be a warning to all executives that skirt the law and lie to their customers that they will be held to account.”

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