((a)) ** Request for investigative assistance** A request by a foreign antitrust authority for investigative assistance under this section shall be made to the Attorney General, who may deny the request in whole or in part. No further action shall be taken under this section with respect to any part of a request that has been denied by the Attorney General.
((b)) ** Authority to investigate** In accordance with an antitrust mutual assistance agreement in effect under this chapter, subject to , and except as provided in , the Attorney General and the Commission may, using their respective authority to investigate possible violations of the Federal antitrust laws, conduct investigations to obtain antitrust evidence relating to a possible violation of the foreign antitrust laws administered or enforced by the foreign antitrust authority with respect to which such agreement is in effect under this chapter, and may provide such antitrust evidence to the foreign antitrust authority, to assist the foreign antitrust authority—
((1)) in determining whether a person has violated or is about to violate any of such foreign antitrust laws, or
((2)) in enforcing any of such foreign antitrust laws.
((c)) ** Special scope of authority** An investigation may be conducted under subsection (b), and antitrust evidence obtained through such investigation may be provided, without regard to whether the conduct investigated violates any of the Federal antitrust laws.
((d)) ** Rights and privileges preserved** A person may not be compelled in connection with an investigation under this section to give testimony or a statement, or to produce a document or other thing, in violation of any legally applicable right or privilege.