WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Chairman of the Senate’s panel on Consumer Protection, today released a statement following news reports that Japanese manufacturer Takata has received a federal grand jury subpoena from the Department of Justice. Takata has been accused of knowingly hiding safety defects in its airbags from safety regulators—information that may have saved lives:

“When companies put their own profits ahead of the lives of American consumers, they deserve to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. So I’m pleased the U.S. Attorney has taken swift action here to open a criminal probe.”

Earlier this week, McCaskill called on the Justice Department to consider criminal charges against Takata.

According to reports, Takata employees conducted tests on airbags a decade ago and identified safety problems, which were subsequently covered up by company leadership. Currently, more than 14 million vehicles have been recalled due to airbag rupture risks, with four deaths being tied to the defect.

Earlier this year, McCaskill led the Senate’s investigation into recent recalls at General Motors. McCaskill led three Senate hearings into issues surrounding 2.6 million vehicles recalled for defective ignition switches that have been linked to a number of deaths, and also held a hearing on bipartisan rental car safety legislation that she has introduced.