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By Marni Rose McFall
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The deal with Amazon for First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary is set to face scrutiny from Congress as Democratic lawmakers question whether the documentary failed to comply with federal anti-bribery laws.
Newsweek has contacted Amazon and a representative for the first lady via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Official scrutiny from lawmakers is the latest twist in the tale of the highly publicized documentary about the first lady. Scandal surrounded it from the outset, at first over director Brett Ratner's involvement—Ratner was ostracized in Hollywood following allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct by six women in 2017.
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Then came the criticism over the price of the project: Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the 104-minute documentary, with a further $35 million for marketing, totaling around $75 million. When it was released, there was widespread speculation over how the film was performing. It ultimately had the strongest recorded start of any documentary in more than a decade, bringing in $7 million at its opening weekend.
The documentary itself focused on the 20 days in the lead-up to Trump’s second inauguration and debuted at the Trump-Kennedy Center.
What To Know
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is among those calling for Amazon to answer questions about how the documentary came to be.
Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson (Georgia), Dan Goldman (New York), Pramila Jayapal (Washington) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (New Mexico) have also joined the charge for Amazon to answer questions.
In a letter, the lawmakers wrote “[T]he American people deserve assurance that powerful corporations are not using their financial resources to gain political influence or favorable treatment at public expense—and that these corporations are not violating federal bribery laws.”
The lawmakers seek to ascertain why Amazon paid $40 million for the documentary and to clarify whether this bid had been discussed with anyone in the administration or with the first lady.
The letter also raises questions about financial donations from Amazon. Though the president took aim at Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, in his first term, it’s a different story in his second term, with Amazon having donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and Bezos attending the inauguration.
Amazon has yet to publicly comment on the letter.
The documentary had already received criticism from Democrats, who criticized the price paid, particularly in the wake of mass layoffs at The Washington Post, owned by Bezos, and the timing of its release. The film was officially released shortly after the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. The president, meanwhile, said that he loved the film.
What People Are Saying
The letter from lawmakers reads in part: “The fact that Amazon is seeking favorable treatment from the Trump Administration while paying a far-above-market sum to produce and promote the Trump family’s film raises questions about Amazon’s exposure under federal anti-bribery law.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat in a post on X on February 4: “A devastating day for the paper of record in our nation's capital. Bezos just spent $40M sucking up to Trump with Amazon's 'Melania', but is now cutting a third of @WashigntonPost staff – including much of the international & local teams – for "budget" reasons? The corporate takeover of media is a threat to our democracy & the delivery of the truth to the American people."
President Donald Trump in a post on X on January 31: “Last night I saw, 'MELANIA,' for the second time. The audience loved it, and so do I. Check it out — A MUST SEE!”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in a post on X on January 25, viewed 1.4 million times: “Today DHS assassinated a VA nurse in the street, Bondi is attempting to extort voter files, and half the country is bracing on the eve of a potentially crippling ice storm with FEMA gutted. So what is the President up to? Having a movie night at the White House. He’s unfit.”
What Happens Next
The lawmakers have asked Amazon to answer their questions and share an explanation by March 30.
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