Prosecutors Probing Tabloid’s Jeff Bezos Story

Prosecutors Probing Tabloid’s Jeff Bezos Story
Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com Inc., speaks during a discussion at the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on Sept. 19, 2018. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

NEW YORK—Federal prosecutors in New York are probing whether the National Enquirer’s parent company violated a cooperation agreement in its handling of the story regarding Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Bezos claims American Media Inc. threatened to publish intimate photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the tabloid obtained his private exchanges with his mistress.

Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that prosecutors are looking at whether an email exchange Bezos published shows AMI violated an agreement it struck to avoid prosecution for alleged campaign finance violations. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The agreement requires AMI to commit no crimes for three years. AMI did not respond to requests for comment.

‘Extortion And Blackmail’

The publisher of the National Enquirer says it will investigate Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ allegation that it threatened to publish revealing personal photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the tabloid obtained his private exchanges with his mistress.

American Media Inc. says in a statement issued Friday it “acted lawfully” while reporting the story.

The Enquirer published a story last month that included lurid texts between Bezos and former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez. Since then, private investigators have been looking into how the Enquirer got the texts.

copy of the National Enquirer
A copy of the National Enquirer (R) is seen at a newspaper vendor’s shop on Third Avenue in midtown New York City, on Feb. 8, 2019. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

Bezos says he was the target of “extortion and blackmail” by American Media. But the company says it engaged in “good faith negotiations.”

American Media says its board of directors ordered a prompt and thorough investigation. It says it’ll take “whatever appropriate action is necessary.”

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he was the target of “extortion and blackmail” by the publisher of the National Enquirer. He says the Enquirer chief threatened to publish revealing personal photos of Bezos unless he stopped investigating how the tabloid obtained his private exchanges with his mistress.

Bezos, who is also owner of The Washington Post, detailed his interactions with American Media Inc., in an extraordinary blog posted on Thursday, Feb. 7, on Medium.com. The billionaire said the Enquirer wanted him to make a public statement that the tabloid’s coverage was not politically motivated.

Bezos’ accusations add another twist to a high-profile clash between the world’s richest man and the leader of America’s best-known tabloid.

By Jim Mustian and Michael R. Sisak

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments