VW C.E.O. ‘Personally’ Apologized to President Obama in Plea for Mercy; New York Times, 4/28/16

Jack Ewing, New York Times; VW C.E.O. ‘Personally’ Apologized to President Obama in Plea for Mercy:

"“I used the opportunity to personally apologize to him for our behavior,” Mr. Müller said during a news conference in Wolfsburg on Thursday. “I thanked him for the constructive cooperation with his officials. Of course I also expressed the hope that I will be able to continue to fulfill my responsibility to 600,000 employees and their families as well as suppliers and dealers.”

Mr. Müller’s mention of Volkswagen workers and their families can be seen as a plea for American officials to not punish those who had nothing to do with any wrongdoing. Lawyers in the case expect the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice to demand penalties that are painful for Volkswagen, but not so severe that they destroy the company.

Thousands of jobs in the United States depend on Volkswagen."