In his first public comments since parting with the automaker, former General Motors engineer Raymond DeGiorgio defended his role to the New York Times in what he referred to in internal documents as the “switch from hell,” according to MLive.

He’s referencing a defective ignition switch found in smaller-model GM cars that has been linked to at least 32 deaths, prompted a recall of 2.6 million vehicles and cost GM billions of dollars.

DeGiorgio has been at the center of blame for the disastrous part, and when a New York Times reporter caught up with him at his suburban Detroit home he reportedly became emotional:

“Asked about the dozens of people who were killed and injured because of a faulty ignition switch that he was responsible for, Mr. DeGiorgio, 61, broke down and cried.

‘It’s very emotional,’ he said. ‘I’m getting very emotional about it right now.’
Yet at the same time he was defensive and defiant. ‘All I can say is that I did my job,’ he said. ‘I didn’t lie, cheat or steal. I did my job the best I could.’”

DeGiorgio was fired with 14 other employees in June. At the time, GM CEO Mary Barra said the names of the dismissed workers would not be made public, but she did confirm that DeGiorgio and fellow engineer Gary Altman – both of whom had previously been put on paid leave – were no longer with the company.

The New York Times’ review of internal documents reveals that DeGiorgio expressed concern to high-level committees at GM, but these concerns were rebuffed. DeGiorgio first approved the part in 2001, but then later found the ignition switch to be flawed, and in ensuing months he expressed as much to GM colleagues and Delphi employees, according to the New York Times report.

However, DeGiorgio is blamed for failing to change the part number of new switches he unilaterally ordered from Delphi in 2006, making it harder for GM to understand why earlier Chevrolet Cobalts had higher failure rates than models made after 2006, according to the report.

GM has recalled 2.6 million vehicles, including 2.2 million in the U.S., affected by the ignition switch. The recall includes 2003-2007 Saturn Ions, 2007-2010 Saturn Skys, 2005-2011 Chevrolet HHRs, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstices, and 2005-10 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 models.

The faulty ignition switches at the heart of the unprecedented recall can move out of the “run” position to the “accessory” or “off” positions, leading to a loss of power. The risk may be increased if the key ring is carrying added weight or if the vehicle goes off road or experiences some jarring event, including rough roads. If the key turns to one of those positions, officials say the front air bags may not work if there’s a crash.