- Five Amazon senior executives made individual campaign contributions to House Democrat Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island
- Cicilline was leading the antitrust probe into Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google’s business practices
- The donations were made over the three-week period starting in late May
- Representatives from the tech companies were questioned in July
- Executives included: CEO of worldwide consumer Jeff Wilke, CFO Brian Olsavsky, general counsel David Zapolsky, SVP of worldwide operations Dave Clark and SVP of North America consumer Doug Herrington
- Four made $2,800 contributions and Olsavsky donated $1,500
- No executive from the other companies probed in the House antitrust investigation made contributions to Cicilline’s campaign
- Cicilline says that the day the antitrust probe was launched, he enforced a policy refusing to accept campaign contributions from companies under investigation
- Donations were made prior to antitrust probe announcement and before July hearing was scheduled
Five Amazon executives gave individual campaign contributions to the Congressman who led the House antitrust investigation into their company just two months before their hearing in July, it has been revealed.
In July House Democrat Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island led a hearing where lawmakers grilled executives from Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google on their business and anti-competition practices.
Just two months prior in late May, five senior Amazon executives – CEO of worldwide consumer Jeff Wilke, CFO Brian Olsavsky, general counsel David Zapolsky, SVP of worldwide operations Dave Clark and SVP of North America consumer Doug Herrington – made individual contributions to Cicilline’s campaign, according to CNBC.
All five made the maximum $2,800 contribution, except for Olsavsky who donated $1,500.
Cicilline became the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee in January when Democrats regained control of the House.
In contrast, no executive from the other companies probed in the House antitrust investigation – Apple, Facebook or Google – made individual contributions to Cicilline’s campaign, according to filings.