WASHINGTON-Justice Department antitrust chief Charles James is resigning to become vice president and general counsel for Chevron Texaco Corp., leaving several pending high-tech mergers in limbo and creating uncertainty for mobile phone operators that are in merger talks.
James, who negotiated a settlement in the government’s antitrust suit against Microsoft Corp., ran into trouble with Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) after attempting to realign antitrust responsibilities of the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
James is expected to join Chevron Texaco later this year. Before joining the Bush administration, James represented Nextel Communications Inc. and other telecom companies.
