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Lina Khan, a Top Antitrust Thinker, in Talks to Join Democratic Staff in the House, Putting Silicon Valley on Alert

A major new congressional hire could result in more federal pressure on companies like Facebook and Amazon, The Daily Beast has learned.

Lina Khan, who wrote a semi-viral Yale Law Journal article about Amazon, is in talks to join the staff of the congressional panel overseeing antitrust issues, according to people familiar with the plans. Rep. David Cicilline chairs the panel.

She comes from a school of antitrust thinkers who have called for breaking up Facebook.

Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, has made no secret of his interest in taking on major internet companies as the newly minted chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on antitrust. Now, Khan, who did not respond to requests for comment, could become an ally in that work. The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department enforce antitrust laws by taking major corporations to court; changes on the Hill could mean increased pressure on them to do so.

“A lot of members don’t hire qualified staffers, especially on complicated issues like antitrust, which hinders their ability to get things done,” said a federal lobbyist who works on antitrust issues and spoke anonymously because of client concerns. “This is a person qualified for the job, who will supercharge Cicilline’s oversight work.”

“In hiring Lina, Cicilline will be more successful in pushing regulators to scrutinize the anti-competitive activity of companies like Facebook,” the lobbyist added.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/lina-khan-a-top-anti-trust-thinker-joins-democratic-staff-in-the-house-putting-silicon-valley-on-alert