Emails Show GM Ordered Ignition Switches Two Months Before Recall

Emails showing that General Motors ordered a half-million replacement ignition switches nearly two months before telling the government of a safety recall will be heavily scrutinized by federal prosecutors, who are investigating GM's conduct, according to legal experts. The email chain, released Monday by an attorney suing GM, again raises questions about how forthcoming GM has been with safety regulators and lawmakers, as well as a GM-funded investigation into the defective switches by former U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas. The chain of emails from December through February shows that a contract employee for GM inquired about the parts on Dec. 18, 2013, and ordered them from Delphi the following day, in preparation to replace parts on 500,000 to over 700,000 vehicles. The cost was estimated at nearly $3 million. GM said in a statement the emails are "further confirmation" that its system needed to be reformed, which it has done. The company also said it is standard practice to start ordering parts before a recall determination is made.