A federal judge in Detroit said Friday that he will not reconsider his July dismissal of General Motors racketeering lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. U.S. District Judge Paul Borman wrote in an opinion that new evidence presented by GM regarding bribes and foreign bank accounts is too speculative to warrant reopening the case. GM alleged that FCA used foreign bank accounts to pay bribes to former United Auto Workers Presidents Dennis Williams and Ron Gettelfinger, as well as Vice President Joe Ashton. It also alleges that money was paid to GM employees including Al Iacobelli, a former FCA labor negotiator who was hired and later released by GM. GM said the payments were made so the officials would saddle GM with more than $1 billion in additional labor costs.

GM alleges that payments were made so the officials would saddle GM with more than $1 billion in additional labor costs. GM alleged that accounts apparently exist in Gettelfingers name, and the name of a relative in Panama and Switzerland. In July, U.S. District Judge Paul Borman in Detroit tossed out GMs lawsuit that alleged that Fiat Chrysler paid off union leaders to get better contract terms than GM. In a 2019 lawsuit, GM alleged that Fiat Chrysler bribed officials of the United Auto Workers union to get lower labor costs. GM alleged that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne, who died in 2018, wanted to pressure GM into merging by weakening it with higher costs.

DETROIT General Motors appears to have adopted a scorched earth policy when it comes to its lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Bribes were paid to individuals working within GM, who then stashed them in secret overseas accounts, GM said in a court filing. GM also claims while Ashton sat as the UAWs member on the General Motors board, he acted as a paid mole, giving GM proprietary information to FCA. GM goes on to say, it was former UAW president Dennis Williams who put Ashton up to all of this. But then, General Motors brought in the name of the long retired former UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, who has to date not been involved in the scandal.

Another United Auto Workers leader is expected to plead guilty in court today as part of a federal probe into alleged corruption within the union. Joe Ashton, the retired UAW-GM vice president, is believed to have crafted a scheme with two associates, Jeffrey Pietrzyk and Michael Grimes, involving kickbacks and rigged bids totaling millions of dollars. READ MORE: Retired UAW Vice President Joe Ashton charged in bribery, kickback scandalUAW Interim President Rory Gamble wants to change the union’s direction entirely with the increased exposure of more alleged corruption. “It is shocking and very disheartening at the same time,” Gamble said. Pietrzyk, who served on union’s Center for Human Resources board with Ashton, and Grimes, Ashton’s administrative assistant have already pleaded gui;ty and are waiting to be sentenced.

Joe Ashton is expected to plead guilty. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

DETROIT Retired United Auto Workers Vice President Joe Ashton has been charged in connection with a bribery and kickback scandal. Ashton served as the UAW General Motors vice president from 2010 to 2014. Ashton suggested doing a custom UAW watch contract as a way to get the business paid, according to authorities. Ashton had Pietrzyk rig the bid on the contract for $1 million more than it was worth, according to authorities. He then went to the business and demanded kickbacks on the watch contract, officials said.

DETROIT - Former United Automotive Workers official Jeff Pietrzyk is headed to prison for his involvement in a federal fraud case. Pietrzyk was an aide to UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. Pietrzyk is charged with money laundering and wire fraud for allegedly milking UAW vendors for kickbacks, according to court records. He was referenced in an August case against former UAW official Mike Grimes, who was convicted in the corruption case. The UAW released a statement that said, "The criminal conduct Jeff Pietrzyk has admitted is appalling and goes against everything we stand for as a union."

DETROIT - Former United Automotive Workers official Jeff Pietrzyk is expected to plead guilty in a federal fraud case, Local 4 has learned. Pietrzyk was an aide to UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. He will reportedly enter a guilty plea in late October. Pietrzyk is charged with money laundering and wire fraud for allegedly milking UAW vendors for kickbacks, according to court records. He was referenced in an August case against former UAW official Mike Grimes, who was convicted in the corruption case.

DETROIT - The United Auto Workers strike against General Motors will continue through the weekend as talks ended Friday without a deal. Senator from Massachusetts, plans to make a stop in Metro Detroit Sunday to show support for the striking workers who are expected to hold a solidarity rally the same day. Leaders of the United Autoworkers (UAW) union decided to initiate a strike Sunday against General Motors as contract negotiations went beyond a weekend deadline. On Tuesday, GM announced it would move striking UAW workers to COBRA healthcare coverage. READ IN-DEPTHOverall, union workers have shut down 33 manufacturing plants in nine states and 22 parts distribution warehouses.

DETROIT - Jeff Pietrzyk, a former aid to UAW Vice President Joe Ashton, is the 11th current or former UAW official to be accused of widespread corruption. An indictment accuses Pietrzyk of money laundering and wire fraud. Pietrzyk was allegedly getting checks from the vendor for various amounts -- usually $25,000. The criminal complaint against Pietrzyk also details kickbacks given to another UAW official described as union official one, who is believed to be Ashton. The kickbacks allegedly totaled more than $550,000.