Key members of an influential congressional committee ask the Justice Department to look into Amazon for alleged obstruction Wednesday after the caller allegedly run to great lengths to drag one’s heels the commission ’s late antimonopoly probe . Lawmakers tell the tech giant engaged in “ potentially felonious demeanor . ”
The 24 - pageletter , describes a damning history of Amazon representatives lying to Congress on multiple occasions , as well as frequent failures to ply requested support — including internal audit and communications related to the investigation .
The varsity letter , dated March 9 , accuse Amazon of being “ enchant in a Trygve Lie and repeated misrepresentations , ” and also allege that the troupe after “ attempted to cover up its lie by offering ever - shifting explanations ” of its practices and policies . In one specific case , an executive claim under cuss that Amazon did not use data point about specific third - political party sellers to inform its own mathematical product development . However , former employees toldThe Wall Street Journalthat ’s precisely what the company does .
Photo: Ronny Hartmann/picture alliance (Getty Images)
When reached for gossip by Gizmodo , an Amazon spokesperson denied the party ’s error .
“ There ’s no actual basis for this , as show in the huge intensity of information we ’ve provided over several years of good - organized religion cooperation with this investigation , ” the voice say .
According to the letter of the alphabet , Amazon ’s lawyer have repeatedly tried to conjure attorney - customer - privilege and lawyer - work - ware - privilegeto abstain from sharing requested document , a defence force the committee blasted as “ invalid on its face . ” Lawmakers said the society has keep back a substantial number of written document “ without valid justification . ”
The Antitrust Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee pass the last few yearsinvestigatingclaims of anti - competitive practices among the tech industry ’s self-aggrandizing role player , namely Amazon , Apple , Meta , and Google . The subcommittee ’s dealing with Amazon have been especially combative , according toThe Wall Street Journal , as lawmakers sought to determine whether Amazon had used its vast source of data about third - company sellers to create its own near identical product . The fellowship has also been impeach of rigging its search engine results to favour its own secret - label production over third - party sellers .
The letter paints a photograph of an evasive and dishonorable company , calling its testimonial and statements “ inaccurate and deceptive . ”
Committee members summarized their impressions bluntly , writing , “ What Amazon does not come along to take severely is its obligation to provide true and over responses to Committee inquiry . ”
Lying to Congress — under oath or otherwise — can get you in a whole lot of hassle , given that it’sa federal crime . Whether the Justice Department will ultimately pursue an probe into Amazon ’s practices stay on ill-defined , and the Department did input on the letter to Gizmodo .
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