WASHINGTON, D.C. -

As a group of six U.S. senators pressed Attorney General Eric Holder for an investigation of the automaker’s recalling of older models with problematic ignition switches, General Motors refuted reports that chief executive officer Mary Barra knew much earlier than Jan. 31 about significant issues.

Online reports surfaced based on the Congressional release of an internal GM email to Barra dated in 2011 referencing steering problems with the Saturn Ion, one of the models associated with the ignition switch campaign. The automaker emphasized what Barra told lawmakers in separate Capitol Hill hearings was true and accurate.

“The email to Mary Barra dated October 3, 2011 references a Saturn Ion steering issue — an issue completely separate from the ignition-related recalls,” GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly said in a message to Auto Remarketing.

“The email in no way contradicts Ms. Barra’s previous statements or testimony before the House or Senate subcommittees,” Kelly continued. “The email was among the thousands of documents GM willingly provided to the Energy & Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives upon the committee’s request.”

Barra, meanwhile, will be arriving in the Big Apple with even more pressure from U.S. lawmakers. When she takes her place as one the keynote speakers at the 2014 Automotive Forum in New York Tuesday, she will arrive knowing demands from those six U.S. Senators.

Led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, five other senators joined in the signing of a document sent to Holder on Friday seeking that DOJ intervene and execute three demands, including:

— Requiring GM establish a fund to fully compensate victims
— Intervening in pending civil actions to oppose any action by GM to deny responsibility for damages
— Ensuring consumers are adequately aware of operating defective vehicles prior to repair

Along with Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, the other lawmakers who sign the document for Holder included Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Edward  Markey (D-Mass.).

“We write to request your immediate intervention and assistance on behalf of victims of severe damage — financial harm, physical injury and death — resulting from serious ignition switch defects in General Motors cars,” the senators said.

“Without your active involvement, they may have no meaningful remedy,” they continued. “Given the crucial role the United States government played in creation of the current General Motors Corporation, we believe the federal government has a moral, if not legal, obligation to take all necessary steps to protect innocent consumers.”

Barra was announced as one of the speakers at the 2014 Automotive Forum before any of the turmoil began over ignition switches in vehicles GM no longer manufacturers such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion and Pontiac G5. Barra already has faced hearings orchestrated by the House and Senate and now is on tap to speak at this event leading up the New York International Auto Show.

Barra’s is scheduled to conduct a 40-minute question-and-answer session beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Blumenthal has been outspoken about his frustration concerning GM’s approach to this recall. The lawmaker wants the automaker to ground more than 2 million units associated with the campaign until all repairs are completed. He repeated the request in a letter to Barra on Thursday.

“The New York Times represented that on several occasions, GM vehicles have shut down while in motion despite no added weight on the key. I spoke about another such instance on the Senate Floor last week. I am writing to ask that you keep your promise to me, to the Senate Commerce Committee, and the American people by doing the right thing and grounding these vehicles that are needlessly putting lives at risk,” Blumenthal wrote in the letter to Barra.

“Currently, the recall notices that GM has issued in no way convey the risk these vehicles pose to their drivers, passengers and other motorists on the road — and their ambiguous wording additionally fails to convey the serious safety threat that exists even under the conditions that you have described,” he went on to say.

Blumenthal also scoffed at GM’s move to put two automaker engineers on paid leave following a briefing from Anton Valukas, the former U.S. attorney overseeing an independent investigation into circumstances leading to the safety recall.

“This minor disciplinary step sadly neglects drivers still in serious danger,” Blumenthal said. “I welcome efforts to hold accountable the GM officials who caused injury and death in their cars, but GM must protect drivers still in serious danger by warning them to stop using these cars until repaired. GM should ground defective, dangerous cars before they lead to more death, injury and damage.”