Online seller Jack Nekhala told Bloomberg reporter Spencer Soper he had been approached by someone selling a service to unfreeze his suspended Amazon account by bribing an employee, according to an article published last month.
Soper published an update today, sharing on LinkedIn that “Amazon is being investigated by the US Senate’s Small Business Committee, which is worried about Chinese influence over the popular online marketplace and whose staffers have found “compelling evidence” of Amazon negligence. Republican committee staff members have been interviewing Amazon merchants and their consultants regarding the issue.”
Nekhala thanked Soper in a comment on his LinkedIn post, writing the following:
“Thank you, Spencer Soper Two years ago, I was simply trying to understand what happened to my business. I never imagined it would lead to a Bloomberg investigation and now a U.S. Senate inquiry.
“I hope this ultimately results in greater transparency, accountability, and a fair process for the millions of small businesses that depend on Amazon. Thank you for continuing to report on an issue that affects far more people than just me.”
Soper reported in today’s article that news of the probe came from Amazon sellers and consultants with whom he had spoken. One shared an email reportedly from a committee researcher who said Republican committee staff have been probing “Amazon negligence related to Chinese influence and have found compelling evidence.” Soper noted that the email didn’t cite any specific evidence of Chinese influence.
It’s important to note that Congressional investigations, while significant, are not proof of wrongdoing. It would be interesting to know if the Senate committee is investigating additional online marketplaces.
