ON ALL THINGS AMAZON, AND KIM WEHLE FORMER ASSISTANT U.S.
ATTORNEY.
ATTORNEY. DYLAN, WE GOT TO START WITH YOU.
WHAT COULD BE SO DAMAGING THAT
AMI WOULD RESORT TO A APPARENT
BLACKMAIL TO END BEZOS’S
INVESTIGATION AND PRESUMABLY
KEEPING HIM FROM FINDING OUT HOW
EXACTLY THEY GOT THESE TEXTS?
>> THAT REALLY IS THE QUESTION
BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN
JEFF BEZOS’S POST ARE PRETTY
DETAILED LETTERS SHOWING WHAT
AMI ALLEGEDLY HAD ON HIM, THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT MIGHT JEFF
BEZOS HAVE KNOWN, WHAT MIGHT HE
HAVE HAD GOING AFTER HOW AMI GOT
A HOLD OF THESE INFORMATION,
THESE PHOTOS AND TEXTS THAT THEY
FOUND SO DAMNING AND ON TOP OF
THAT, WHY ARE THEY CONTINUING TO
GO AFTER JEFF BEZOS AFTER DAVID
PECKER, THE CHAIRMAN OF AMI, HAS
ALREADY COPPED TO PARTICIPATING
IN CATCH AND KILL STORIES WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP TO THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT?
DEPARTMENT? THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT THE
SCRUTINY IS ALREADY THERE, SO
WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?
THAT INDEED IS THE QUESTION.
WHAT DO THEY HAVE?
THIS WHOLE STORY AS YOU JUST
LAID IT OUT SO FASCINATING
BECAUSE WHAT YOU EFFECTIVELY
HAVE IS YOU HAVE BEZOS, THE
WEALTHIEST MAN IN THE WORLD, THE
FOUNDER OF AMAZON GOING FROM
BEING THIS PUNCHLINE OF THIS
SORTED AFFAIR THAT EITHER
DESTROYED HIS MARRIAGE OR
HASTENED THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS
MARRIAGE, CAST HIM IN A VERY
NEGATIVE AND SCANDALOUS LIGHT,
FLIPPING THAT SCRIPT OVER NIGHT
TO ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMING
PRAISED AS A HERO OF JOURNALISM
WHO IS INDICTING THE AMERICAN
CULTURE AND REALLY RECASTING
HIMSELF AS PART OF THAT LARGER
NARRATIVE OF THE "THE WASHINGTON
POST" AND THE MEDIA STANDING UP
AGAINST THAT SORTED KIND OF
JOURNALISM.
JOURNALISM. >> AS A SOURCE CLOSE TO BEZOS
TOLD ME LAST NIGHT, DO NOT POKE
THIS BEZOS BEAR.
KIM, TO ME IT’S NOT A SURPRISE
HOW DAVID PECKER RUNS HIS
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. WE’VE KNOWN THIS IS HOW THE
ENQUIRER OPERATES FOR YEARS, BUT
IT SEEMS INCREDIBLY RECKLESS TO
PUT THESE THREATS IN AN EMAIL
GIVEN THAT THERE’S A DEAL THAT
WAS MADE WITH FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS?
PROSECUTORS? >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. THE COOPERATION DEAL HAD TO DO
WITH THE QUID PRO QUO TO SILENCE
A WOMAN WHO HAD HAD A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT,
KAREN McDOUGAL AND THEY
ESSENTIALLY AGREED, LISTEN, DOJ
SAID WE’RE NOT GOING TO
PROSECUTE YOU FOR THE RELATED
ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE
VIOLATIONS WITH THIS IF YOU
COOPERATE AND THE AGREEMENT IS
VERY CLEAR.
VERY CLEAR. THE DEAL IS COMPLETELY OFF IF
YOU ENGAGE HAD ANY CRIMES
WHATSOEVER.
WHATSOEVER. WE DON’T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY
CRIMES HERE.
CRIMES HERE. POSSIBLY IF THE INFORMATION MR.
BEZOS’S PRIVATE INFORMATION WAS
HACKED, THAT’S CERTAINLY A
CRIME, AND THERE’S SOME TALK
ABOUT EXTORTION.
ABOUT EXTORTION. THAT’S ANOTHER QUESTION OF THE
WHETHER THERE’S ELEMENTS OR
FACTS GETTING RISE TO THAT.
THE NOTION THAT THEY HAVE THIS
AGREEMENT, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT IS -- HAS THEM UNDER
SCRUTINY, THE NOOSE WAS AROUND
THEIR NECK AND THEY’RE
NONETHELESS ENGAGING IN
PROBLEMATIC, AT THE LEAST TYPE
COMMUNICATIONS WITH A TITAN OF
THE MEDIA OR AMAZON TITAN.
IT’S REALLY QUITE DANGEROUS AND
SO THE QUESTION ARISES WHY, WHY
PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE IN THIS
WAY?
WAY? WHAT KIND OF POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED CHARGES AGAINST AMI
WOULD BEZOS ALLEGEDLY HAVE
GIVEN?
GIVEN? >> WE SHOULD REMIND OUR
AUDIENCE, AMI DOES NOT OWN THE
NATIONAL ENQUI THEY OWN US
WEEKLY."
WEEKLY." THE FIRST WEEK DAVID PECKER HAD
EDITORIAL CONTROL OF US WEEKLY,
THAT FIRST ISSUE HAD A GLOWING
LIFESTYLE ARTICLE ABOUT IVANKA
TRUMP AND SINCE HAS HAD MANY,
MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THE TRUMP
FAMILY AND THEIR LIFESTYLE.
SCOTT, YOU TWEETED LAST NIGHT
SPEAKING OF THE PRESIDENT, THAT
YOU BELIEVE HE IS DIRECTLY
INVOLVED IN THIS.
WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THAT BUT
CLEARLY IT’S ON YOUR MIND.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. AND TO BE CLEAR IT’S PURE
SPECULATION.
SPECULATION. A KEY TELL AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IS WHEN SOMEONE IS
DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR IN THE
FAST LANE THAT THEY’RE HIDING
SOMETHING.
SOMETHING. THE PRESIDENT’S SILENCE ON THIS
IS EERIE.
IS EERIE. HE TWEETED ABOUT BEZOS CALLING
HIM BOW ZOE JANUARY 4th BUT THIS
IS SOMEONE WHO NEVER MISSES AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MOCK SOMEONE HE
PERCEIVES AS AN ADVERSARY VIA
TWITTER AND HE HASN’T SAID
ANYTHING AND I THINK THAT’S --
THAT’S A TELL HERE AND LIKE WITH
A FACEBOOK HACK OR ANY SCANDAL
INVOLVING THE PRESIDENT, THE
ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS
THAT IT’S ALMOST WORSER, ALWAYS
WORSE THAN WE ORIGINALLY
THOUGHT.
THOUGHT. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE
OF THE BIGGEST STORIES OF 2019
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CARDS
STILL TO BE TURNED OVER HERE.
PUT ANOTHER WAY?
THE PRESIDENT AND AMI ARE BOTH
ACTING LIKE GUILTY PARTIES RIGHT
NOW.
NOW. >> ACTING.
>> ACTING. I WANT TO BRING MY PANEL IN RICK
TYLER AND MARK THOMPSON.
RICK, YOU KNOW AMI AND THE
"NATIONAL ENQUIRER," YOU WORKED
WITH TED CRUZ AND IT WAS THE
"NATIONAL ENQUIRER" THAT WAS
GOING HARD AFTER TED CRUZ WITH
THE RIDICULOUS CONSPIRACY THEORY
THAT HIS OWN FATHER WAS TIED TO
THE ASSASSINATION OF JFK.
CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR EXPERIENCE
OR WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS
ORGANIZATION?
ORGANIZATION? >> WHAT’S AT STAKE HERE, WHAT
BEZOS IS ESTABLISHING THAT THE
"NATIONAL ENQUIRER" IS NOT
LEGITIMATE NEWS.
LEGITIMATE NEWS. >> WE KNEW THAT.
>> BUT IT’S AN IMPORTANT POINT
AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE
PRESIDENT WHO IS FRIENDS WITH
DAVID PECKER AND HE HAS
CONSISTENTLY USED THAT TABLOID
TO STRIKE AT HIS POLITICAL
ENEMIES, HE DID THAT WITH TED
CRUZ AND HERE HE’S DOING IT WITH
JEFF BEZOS BUT JEFF BEZOS IS NOW
PUNCHING DOWN BECAUSE HIS LETTER
IS EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE HE
IMINDICATES NOT ONLY THE
PRESIDENT IN HIS LETTER BUT NOT
DIRECTLY AND HE IMPLICATES THE
SAUDIS BECAUSE THEY ARE -- THEY
WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON YOU
WOULD GO TO TO SAY WHERE DID YOU
GET THESE TEXTS?
IT SEEMS TO BE EITHER FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OR THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT, LIKELY THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT AND THAT’S -- THAT’S
A BIG -- THAT’S A BIG PROBLEM.
>> NOT RUSSIA?
>> HE DIDN’T -- HE DIDN’T
MENTION RUSSIA.
MENTION RUSSIA. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS
INTERESTING, HE ACTUALLY MADE
HIMSELF INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE
AND HE DESCRIBES THE TEXT AND
THE PHOTOS THAT AMI HAS IN THEIR
POSSESSION BECAUSE ONCE YOU READ
THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOS,
NO OFFENSE, JEFF, THERE’S NO
REAL MARKET FOR PEOPLE TO SAY,
GEE, I WISH WE COULD SEE THOSE
PHOTOS.
PHOTOS. >> THAT’S NOT TRUE.
HOLD ON A SECOND.
THERE IS A HUGE MARKET.
I’M NOT SAYING A PERSONAL
INTEREST, WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON
DOWN THERE, BUT IT’S A HUGE
STORY?
STORY? >> IT BLUNTS THE WHOLE -- THE
WAY THEY OPERATE.
GEE, LOOK AT THIS NOW EVERYBODY
KNOWS THEY HAVE IT AND THIS IS
SORTED.
SORTED. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO HANG OUT
WITH.
WITH. >> MY FRIEND STEPHANIE GOSK JUST
WALKED IN WITH A STATEMENT
RECEIVED FROM AMERICAN MEDIA.
WE HADN’T GOTTEN A RESPONSE
UNTIL NOW.
UNTIL NOW. I’LL READ IT TO YOU.
AMERICAN MEDIA BELIEVES THAT IT
ACTED LAWFULLY IN THE REPORTING
OF THE STORY OF MR. BEZOS.
FURTHER, AT THE TIME OF THE
RECENT ALLEGATIONS MADE BY MR.
BEZOS IT WAS IN GOOD FAITH
NEGOTIATIONS TO RESOLVE ALL
MATTERS WITH HIM.
NONETHELESS, IN LIGHT OF THE
NATURE OF THE ALLEGATIONS
PUBLISHED BY MR. BEZOS, THE
BOARD HAS CONVENED AND
DETERMINED THAT IT SHOULD
PROMPTLY AND THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATE THE CLAIMS UPON
COMPLETION OF THAT
INVESTIGATION, THE BOARD WILL
TAKE WHATEVER APPROPRIATE ACTION
IS NECESSARY.
IS NECESSARY. OKAY.
OKAY. THAT’S A WOW.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY SAY RIGHT OUT
OF THE GATE, WE STAND BEHIND THE
REPORTING THAT WE DID.
NO ONE’S DENYING THAT.
JEFF BEZOS HAD AN AFFAIR WITH
THIS WOMAN.
THIS WOMAN. HE DIDN’T SAY THAT WASN’T THE
CASE.
CASE. WE GOT THAT.
BUT NOW THE BOARD IS LOOKING
INTO THE CONDUCT OF AMI.
THAT IS INTERESTING.
>> TO THEY HAVE A CHOICE -- DO
THEY HAVE A CHOICE?
IN A REAL WORLD IN A NORMAL
SITUATION, THERE’S
SITUATION, THERE’S ACCOUNTABILITY IN A CORPORATION,
THERE’S A BOARD.
IF SOMEONE IS GOING ROGUE LIKE
PECKER IS, ALTHOUGH I FIND IT
DOUBTFUL THAT HE HAS A BOARD
THAT DOES NOT EXIST OF SINK
COFANTS THAT WOULDN’T GO ALONG
WITH HIM.
WITH HIM. YOUR BOARD SAYS WE’RE GOING TO
LOOK INTO THIS INDIVIDUAL --
>> WE DON’T KNOW THAT HE HAS A
SINK COFAN TICK BOARD, BECAUSE
HE’S EITHER BEEN IN BANKRUPTCY
OR ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY
MANY TIMES AND THAT COMPANY HAS
GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF RESCUE
FINANCING DEALS.
FINANCING DEALS. HE MIGHT HAVE A BOARD THAT’S NOT
NECESSARILY FRIENDLY.
NECESSARILY FRIENDLY. >> MAYBE NOT NOW, BUT HE’S BEEN
DOING -- THIS ISN’T -- THIS IS
NOT A SURPRISE.
THIS IS WHAT HE DOES.
WE’VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY BOARD
THAT’S WORKED WITH HIM THAT HAS
LOOKED INTO HIS CONDUCT BEFORE,
HAVE WE?
HAVE WE? >> NO, BUT HIS CONDUCT IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, HEY, TIGER WOODS,
I SAW YOU WALKING OUT OF A HOTEL
WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO
WASN’T YOUR WIFE, I’D LIKE YOU
TO BE ON THE COVER OF MY MEN’S
MAGAZINE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN
WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT IN
COVERING UP SOMETHING
POTENTIALLY TIED TO WRONGDOING
IN WINNING AN ELECTION TO BE THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.
THE FACT THAT JEFF BEZOS WAS NOT
INFLUENCED BY AMI, HE WAS
UNWILLING TO SAY THAT THEIR
REPORTING WAS NOT POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED, WHAT DOES THAT TELL
YOU ABOUT WHAT BEZOS OR "THE
WASHINGTON POST" MIGHT KNOW?
>> IT TELLS ME THAT HE’S GOING
TO BE IF HE’S NOT ALREADY AN
IMPORTANT WITNESS IN THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATION AND PERHAPS
SOMEBODY THAT WOULD TESTIFY IN
CONNECTION WITH THE VARIOUS
CONGRESSIONAL PROBES THAT ARE
ONGOING.
ONGOING. IT SEEMS LIKE FOR THIS LEVEL OF
EXCHANGE, THE NOTION THAT E OH,
I’LL COME OUT AND JUST SAY IT
WAS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED --
WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?
WHY WAS THAT SO, SO IMPORTANT TO
AMI?
AMI? WE CAN ONLY SPECULATE ON IT, BUT
AS WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS
SORTED RUSSIA/TRUMP STORY, YOU
START PULLING THE THREAD AND
MORE AND MORE COMES OUT.
IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, THE FACT
THAT MR. BEZOS IS FIGHTING BACK
TO WHAT SOME SCHOLARS HAVE
CALLED SEX TORTION, THIS IDEA
THAT YOU TAKE TEXTS OR PICTURES,
YOU HACK THEM OR FIND THEM SOME
WHERE AND THEN YOU THREATEN
PEOPLE IN EXCHANGE FOR
SOMETHING.
SOMETHING. THAT HURTS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT HURTS PEOPLE WITHOUT A LOT OF
MONEY AND RESOURCES IN THE WAY
MR. BEZOS HAS.
IT’S LED TO SEVERE TRAGEDIES FOR
THE IDEA BEING, I’LL BE
HUMILIATED, I’LL BE SHAMED
AND -- THAT BIGGER NARRATIVE IS
PERHAPS AN IMPORTANT ONE.
>> SCOTT, YOU TWEETED -- YES?
>> JUST A QUICK POINT ON THAT.
IT WOULD BE ENOUGH THIS DRAMA
BETWEEN JEFF BEZOS AND DAVID
PECKER OVER THE QUESTION OF
EXTORTION AND BLACKMAIL, BUT TO
ME THAT’S THE SECONDARY STORY.
THE BIGGER STORY IS WHAT BEZOS
INSIN YATES IN THAT POST WHEN HE
EFFECTIVELY SUGGESTS THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND/OR SAUDI
ARABIA MIGHT BE BEHIND THE
POLITICAL MOTIVATION FOR GOING
AFTER BEZOS BECAUSE THEY DON’T
LIKE THE COVERAGE THAT THEY’VE
BEEN RECEIVING BY HIS PAPER,
"THE WASHINGTON POST."
NOW THAT’S AN INSINUATION, IT’S
NOT AN ALLEGATION.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A SORT OF
GREATER FOCUS NOW ON WHAT THOSE
CONNECTIONS ARE AND, IN FACT,
EARLIER TODAY, FORMER CIA
DIRECTOR JOHN BRENNAN GAVE US A
STATEMENT WHICH SAID
EFFECTIVELY, I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT SAUDI ARABIA WOULD WANT TO
EMBARRASS JEFF BEZOS AND HURT
HIM FINANCIALLY.
HIM FINANCIALLY. I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS
OF THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING TO
TURN AND TO ME THOSE ARE THE
SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL THREATS.
>> SCOTT, LAST NIGHT YOU TWEETED
THAT AMI WENT OUT OF BUSINESS
LAST NIGHT.
LAST NIGHT. THEY JUST DON’T KNOW IT.
THAT’S A WOW, BUT WHY IS NOW?
WHY THIS?
WHY THIS? WHY IS THIS GOING TO PUT THEM
OUT OF BUSINESS?
THEY HAVE BEEN IN HOT WATER
SINCE THEY WENT INTO
PUBLICATION.
PUBLICATION. >> THE SECOND WORSE BUSINESS
DECISION OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS
WAS THE WEALTHIEST MAN IN THE
WORLD DECIDING TO SEND OUT A
VERY INTIMATE PHOTOS.
THE WORSE BUSINESS DECISION OF
THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN BUSINESS,
WAS A MEDIA COMPANY DECIDING TO
ATTEMPT TO EXTORT THE WEALTHIEST
MAN IN THE WORLD VIA EMAIL.
THIS HAS ECHOS OF TEAL VERSUS
GOKER AND IT’S GOING TO HAVE A
SIMILAR OUTCOME.
SIMILAR OUTCOME. THE COURTS AND THE PUBLIC ARE
FED UP WITH ORGANIZATIONS
WRAPPING THEMSELVES IN THE FIRST
AMENDMENT TO ENGAGE IN DEPRAVED
ACTIVITY.
ACTIVITY. THEY HAVE LITERALLY TAKEN THE
BEST RESOURCE, MOST CREATIVE
MIND IN BUSINESS AND TURNED HIS
ATTENTION FROM DISRUPTING THE
BOOK INDUSTRY TO DESTRUCTION.
THIS IS LITERALLY -- THERE IS
NOW A MEG LA DONE IN THE READS
COMING FOR AMI.
THIS WAS A TERRIBLE BUSINESS
DECISION ON THE PART OF THE
INDIVIDUALS AT PECKER.
THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS.
THEY JUST DON’T KNOW IT YET.
>> NOT TO MENTION, WHEN YOU CUT
THAT KIND OF DEAL, YOU ALSO
AGREE, THE WORRYING IS NOT TO
COMMIT ANY CRIMES.
>> THINK OF HOW ABSURD IT IS.
I’VE TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF
REPORTERS ON MANY STORIES THAT I
DIDN’T WANT THEM TO PUBLISH,
RIGHT, AND THERE WAS NEVER LIKE
THIS NEGOTIATION, IF YOU GIVE US
THIS, WE WON’T DO THE STORY ON
YOUR CLIENT.
YOUR CLIENT. THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE PRESS
SHOULD FUNCTION.
SHOULD FUNCTION. IT’S INTERESTING THAT BEZOS WHO
OWNS "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS
GOING TO TAKE DOWN AMI.
>> THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
>> HEAVENS TO BETSY.
MY GOODNESS.
MY GOODNESS. GREAT CONVERSATION.
GREAT CONVERSATION. >> STEPHANIE?
>> STEPHANIE? >> YES, DYLAN?
YES?
YES? >> THAT WASN’T ME --
>> SCOTT, EXCUSE ME, SCOTT.
>> JUST REAL QUICK, STEPHANIE,
IN YOUR -- KIM TOUCHED ON THIS
POINT, I’M REALLY HOPING YOU
FOLLOW-UP HERE BUT THE BEST
THING THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS
IS THAT IT CATMAKES A LONGER
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE A
DIGITAL CRISIS.
DIGITAL CRISIS. JEFF BEZOS KNOWS HE’LL BE OKAY.
DOES A 15 OR 16-YEAR-OLD BOY OR
GIRL WHO IS SITTING AND
STRUGGLING WITH THE MENTAL
ANGUISH OF A MISTAKE THEY HAVE
MADE, DO THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE
OKAY?
OKAY? IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT TEEN
DEPRESSION IS ESCALATING AND
SUICIDE AMONG TEEN GIRLS HAS SKY
ROCKETED.
ROCKETED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A BIGGER
CONVERSATION AROUND THE EMERGING
CRISIS IN TEEN DEPRESSION AND
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE OUR
MISTAKES DIGITALIZED.
MISTAKES DIGITALIZED. >> I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
ENDING OUR SEGMENT ON THAT
POWERFUL MOMENT.
POWERFUL MOMENT. >> AS A MOTHER OF A 12-YEAR-OLD,
WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN MY