Jeff Bezos Called To Testify Before Congress As House Judiciary Launches Amazon Perjury Probe

After a report in the Wall Street Journal appeared to show that Amazon used data gleaned from third-party transactions and used it to for the company’s own competitive advantage on its platform, the House Judiciary Committee on Friday announced that it was launching an investigation into the company over whether it committed perjury during a Congressional hearing.

The probe will require Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to testify before Congress, something he has previously resisted.

Bezos is the only CEO of the American Tech “big four” (Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook) who has never before testified in front of Congress.

Last night, Bezos told Amazon investors to “take a seat”, and insisted that the company would continue to invest in its vast expansion plans despite posting disappointing results.

Of course, Amazon is still responsible for a huge percentage of the broader market rebound last month, even if investors didn’t exactly take to the earnings.

But the fact that Democrats are opening this investigation suggests that the bipartisan antipathy toward Amazon is gathering pace more quickly than the public – and perhaps even Mr. Bezos himself – truly understands.