WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) today issued the following statement following reports by the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal that French Financial Market Regulator, Autorité des Marchés Financiers, has filed a formal complaint and requested a criminal investigation of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). EADS was recently awarded a $35 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers.

"It is clear that EADS cannot be trusted to build KC-X tankers for America – its history confirms this. The Center for Security Policy’s 11-page report highlights numerous past and present problematic issues that need resolved before EADS should be able to compete for American contracts.

"The United States Air Force has kept America shielded from questionable, and in some cases illegal, activities that Airbus and its parent Company EADS have committed. Because the Department of Defense and the Air Force waived the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Cost Accounting Standards for foreign competitors, the American public may never know the true extent of illegal activities that our new KC-X Tanker manufacturer has committed. This represents a serious challenge to our national security.

"This contract should be re-bid with consideration of violations of pubic trust and our national security.

"Our American tanker needs to be built by a company we can trust. Our American tanker needs to be built by an American company with American workers."

To read the full story from the New York Times, click here.

To read the full story from The Wall Street Journal, click here.

For the full report by the Center for Security Policy, "EADS is Welcome to Compete for US Defense Contracts—But First Must Clean Up Its Act", click here.