"Federal Investigation and Urgent Calls for Action: Washington Bridge Shutdown Unveiled"

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a demand letter to the McKee Administration regarding the Washington Bridge failure, indicating an investigation under the False Claims Act. The letter, led by the Rhode Island District of the DOJ, focuses on the actions of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and its contractors, including Barletta Heavy Division. The lead prosecutor, Bethany Wong, is seeking information dating back to 2015, and the investigation will encompass multiple companies involved in the Washington Bridge project over nearly a decade. The demand letter sets a deadline for the delivery of responsive documents and specifically targets documentation related to piers 6 and 7 of the bridge.