Senators accuse GM of covering up defective switch

US senators accused General Motors of trying to cover up problems with an ignition switch that is now tied to 13 deaths, and pressed CEO Mary Barra to commit to punishing anyone involved.
Panel members also told Barra that GM should tell owners to stop driving all the 2.6 million cars being recalled for the faulty switch until they are repaired.
GM is currently telling owners that the cars, mainly Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions, are fine to drive as long as nothing is placed on the key chain.
As she did yesterday at a House hearing, Barra said many details Congress is seeking will come out in an internal GM investigation that should be completed in 45 to 60 days.

She also tried to assure lawmakers that GM is now more focused on safety and the consumer. Many senators were disappointed and not convinced.
"You don't know anything about anything," said Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. "If this is the new GM leadership, it's pretty lacking."

The questioning from the senators was more aggressive, with many focused on the ignition switch, namely how GM approved a replacement in 2006 but never changed the part number.
Failing to change the part number makes the part harder to track. Anyone investigating the cars would not know why earlier switches were failing at a higher rate than later ones.

While Barra called the failure to change the part number "unacceptable," several members of the panel implied that it was done intentionally by person or group within the company, and raised the possibility the action could constitute a criminal violation.
"I don't see this as anything but criminal," insisted Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte, a former prosecutor.
Senator Richard Blumenthal told Barra that the more he hears and sees about GM, "the more convinced I am that GM has a real exposure to criminal liability. I think it's likely and appropriate that GM will face prosecution."
The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation of GM's handling of the recall. Barra promised the company will cooperate with the probe.

Barra said the company has not yet fired any employees in connection with the recall. But she said if inappropriate decisions were made, GM will take action, including terminating those involved.