Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Hearst Corporation, Doing Business as the Houston Chronicle Publishing Company

E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge:

This appeal arises from an administrative subpoena enforcement proceeding. The Hearst Corporation, Houston Chronicle Division (“Hearst”), challenges the authority of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) to enforce two administrative subpoenas because the charging parties have commenced litigation of the underlying claims. The EEOC essentially maintains that once a valid charge has been filed, its authority to investigate the employer continues indefinitely, and never formally terminates. Having considered the arguments of the parties, and the…