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Supported

The cited record supports the material proposition.

Kobe Steel said in July 2019 that the US Justice Department confirmed it required no further documents in its investigation of the misconduct.

About
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Claim made by
Kobe Steel, Ltd., company statement
Published
17 July 2019
Original
Conclusion of the Request for Document Production, etc. from the U.S. Judicial Administrative Authority
Evidence score
62 How it was scored
Last reviewed
25 October 2026

Why this label

The release says Kobe Steel USA received a grand jury request for documents on nonconforming products sold to US customers, as first announced in October 2017S5. It says the Justice Department confirmed that no further production or preservation of documents was requiredS5. The company drew its own conclusion that no further enforcement action would followS5. That last point is the company's expectation, not a DOJ statement. No US charge or settlement was found in a search through October 2026. The claim about what the company said and what DOJ confirmed is supported by the company record.

Current procedural position

Grand jury document request concluded, as reported by the company on 17 July 2019S5. No US enforcement action found as of October 2026.

Record supporting the assessment

the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that it does not require further production or preservation of documents
S5 Tier B Kobe Steel, Ltd., Conclusion of the Request for Document Production, etc. from the U.S. Judicial Administrative Authority, 17 July 2019
anticipates the above-referenced investigation will not result in a further government enforcement action
S5 Tier B Kobe Steel, Ltd., Conclusion of the Request for Document Production, etc. from the U.S. Judicial Administrative Authority, 17 July 2019

Conflicting or limiting record

No record located that conflicts with this assessment.

Evidence score: 62 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Kobe Steel, Ltd.. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

ComponentPointsMaxReason
Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition?1630The DOJ position is reported by the company, not by DOJ.
DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts?1720The release states the DOJ confirmation directly.
CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point?415No DOJ record was found.
Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes?815A closed document request is not a formal declination.
CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments?810No later US action was found.
ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment?910The release is public.
Total62100

Timeline

  1. Kobe Steel USA announces the DOJ request, per the later releaseS5
  2. Company announces the request has concludedS5

Related cases

  • Investigation concerning Kobe Steel USA Inc.US Department of Justice (grand jury request). Criminal. Not published.Stage: Document request concluded in July 2019, as reported by the company.
    • DOJ confirms no further production or preservation needed, per the companyS5

Revision history

  • Assessment first published with label Supported.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

  1. S5Tier B Conclusion of the Request for Document Production, etc. from the U.S. Judicial Administrative AuthorityKobe Steel, Ltd.. Company statement. 17 July 2019.Company account of the end of the US grand jury document request. It is not a DOJ declination letter.Link working, checked 25 October 2026

Other claims about Kobe Steel, Ltd.