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U.S. Grants VW CEO Diess Safe Passage

The U.S. Dept. of Justice has agreed to allow Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess to travel worldwide without fear of being arrested in connection with VW’s diesel emission test cheating.

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The U.S. Dept. of Justice has agreed to allow Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess to travel worldwide without fear of being arrested in connection with VW’s diesel emission test cheating, sources tell Bloomberg News.

Diess, who was hired to head the VW brand three months before the cheating scandal was revealed, has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Bloomberg’s sources say the Justice Dept. also has agreed to alert Diess in advance if it does decide to charge him.

The unusual deal enables Diess to visit VW Group facilities and appear at conferences and auto shows. It also suggests that the U.S. doesn’t believe Diess has any involvement in the scandal, Bloomberg says.

Last week the Justice Dept. revealed it had indicted Diess’ predecessor, Martin Winterkorn, for conspiring to violate the U.S. Clear Air Act. Winterkorn can’t be extradited from Germany, but he could be arrested if he travels outside the country.

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