The Justice Department is looking into possible anticompetitive practices involving e-book sales.

A department spokeswoman says that Sharis Pozen, the acting head of the antitrust division, confirmed the inquiry at a hearing before a House Judiciary subcommittee.

Pozen says the department has been working with the European Union and state attorneys general in the U.S.

The EU's antitrust watchdog said Tuesday that it was investigating whether Apple helped five major publishing houses illegally raise prices for e-books when Apple launched its iPad tablet and iBookstore in 2010.