WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The owner of U.S. tabloid newspaper the National Enquirer pushed back on Friday against accusations of “extortion and blackmail” from Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, saying its reporting on an extramarital relationship involving the world’s richest man was lawful and it would investigate his claims.
Bezos on Thursday accused American Media Inc (AMI) of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing “intimate photos” he allegedly sent to his girlfriend unless he said in public that the American supermarket tabloid’s reporting on him was not politically motivated.
The accusations of blackmail could complicate a related legal matter involving the National Enquirer’s actions during the 2016 U.S. elections. AMI has had close links with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has attacked Bezos, Amazon and the newspaper he owns privately, the Washington Post, on Twitter.
“American Media believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr. Bezos,” the company said in a statement.
Bezos and his wife announced last month that they were divorcing after 25 years of marriage. That same day, the National Enquirer touted it was publishing alleged intimate text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor whom he was said to be dating.
Bezos opened an investigation into how the messages could have ended up in the hands of the tabloid, led by longtime security consultant Gavin de Becker. De Becker told media that the leak was politically motivated.
U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan are reviewing whether the alleged extortion violated a cooperation agreement made last year with AMI in connection with a $150,000 hush-money deal with Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model who claims she had an affair with U.S. President Donald Trump. The president has denied McDougal’s claim.
