WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Lawmakers on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee have expressed concern about the Justice Department review of Sirius Satellite Radio's SIRI.O proposed purchase of rival XM Satellite Radio XMSR.O.

In a letter dated Dec. 11 to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Reps. John Conyers and Steve Chabot wrote: “We were dismayed to learn of recent press reports suggesting that Justice Department staff may be trying to rush through the merger before you have an opportunity to fully participate, and that Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Thomas O. Barnett may intend to grant the merger over the objections of department staff.”

Conyers is a Michigan Democrat while Chabot is a Republican from Ohio. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)