Amazon Claims to Warren, Hank Johnson “No Improper” Bids in Melania Movie, Despite Reportedly Paying Three Times as Much as Next Highest Bidder

Amazon Claims to Warren, Hank Johnson "No Improper" Bids in Melania Movie, Despite Reportedly Paying Three Times as Much as Next Highest Bidder

Warren: "Amazon's response reeks of desperation to please Donald Trump…This looks like bribery in plain sight."

Text of Amazon Response (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - In a new response to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Amazon claimed that there was "no improper" activity in its bid for the new Melania documentary despite what appears to be a corrupt pay-to-play arrangement with the Trump administration. Last month, the lawmakers opened an investigation into Amazon's investment in the Melania film and questioned whether it was used to secure favorable treatment from the Trump administration on antitrust suits, potential tariff exemptions, foreign trade deals, federal contracts, and tax cuts.

The company refused to explain its massive overpayment for the film's rights, insisting that it followed a "thorough and competitive bidding process" despite reportedly paying more than three times as the next closest bidder.

Amazon also said that its decision to license the film was "based on the film and series itself - the access, the story, and its cultural and historical relevance," again providing no business justification for the investment.

In reaction to Amazon's insufficient response, Senator Warren released the following statement:

"Amazon's response reeks of desperation to please Donald Trump. If there's nothing corrupt about this deal and the bidding process was truly "competitive", why won't Amazon explain why it reportedly paid three times as much as the next highest bidder? The logical explanation is that Amazon is trying to buy the President's favor by dumping millions into the Trump family's pockets. This looks like bribery in plain sight, and Amazon must give Congress - and the American people - answers now."

Representative Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) also released the following statement:

"When we saw the oligarchs and tech bros gather in front-row seats at Trump's second inauguration - some of whom gave him millions for his re-election campaign - it raised the specter that the rich and powerful were going to wield dangerous levels of power and influence on the nation through their largess to this transactional and corrupt president. Amazon's 'nothing-to-see-here' response makes this fear even more of a reality. If there were truly nothing to see, then Amazon would have answered these basic questions."

Amazon reportedly invested at least $75 million in the documentary - with reports indicating that about $28 million of that will go directly to Melania Trump. To date, the film has only grossed around $16 million, raising questions about whether Amazon ever planned to break even on the film.

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