Elizabeth Warren accuses Amazon MGM of ‘bribery’ over ‘Melania’ documentary deal

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is accusing Amazon MGM Studios of committing “bribery in plain sight” after the company paid $40 million to acquire a documentary about first lady Melania Trump, a sum the Massachusetts Democrat says far exceeded competing bids and raises questions about federal anti-bribery law.

Amazon MGM paid an additional $35 million to market the film, according to Variety, which first reported the exchange of letters between congressional lawmakers and the studio. The outlet reported that the studio’s offer was $26 million above the next-highest bid, submitted by Disney.

“If there’s nothing corrupt about this deal and the bidding process was truly ’competitive,’ why won’t Amazon explain why it reportedly paid three times as much as the next highest bidder?” Ms. Warren said in a statement. “The logical explanation is that Amazon is trying to buy the President’s favor by dumping millions into the Trump family’s pockets. This looks like bribery in plain sight, and Amazon must give Congress — and the American people — answers now.”

Ms. Warren and Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia Democrat, sent a letter to Amazon on March 15 raising the concern that the studio’s investment in “Melania” was “part of a corrupt pay-to-play arrangement with the Trump administration.” Federal anti-bribery law makes it illegal to offer “anything of value,” including business opportunities and financial arrangements, to elected officials or people closely associated with them with the goal of influencing official acts.

The lawmakers also noted that since President Trump’s 2024 election, Amazon donated $1 million to his inauguration fund and an undisclosed amount toward construction of a new White House ballroom. They further cited Amazon’s financial interests in several matters before the administration, including an antitrust case recently settled with the Federal Trade Commission, foreign trade negotiations and federal contracts.

Amazon pushed back against the allegations. Brian Huseman, the company’s vice president of public policy, said in a March 30 statement that the studio’s decision was driven purely by the film’s merits.

“We disagree with any suggestion that Amazon’s decision to license this film and accompanying series was improper. We regularly release documentaries that offer unique perspectives on cultural and historical figures across the political spectrum,” Mr. Huseman said, according to Variety. “Amazon MGM Studios became the licensor of the film and accompanying series following a thorough and competitive bidding process.”

“Melania” chronicles the first lady’s journey leading up to her husband’s second inauguration. After opening in theaters in late January, the film earned $16.6 million at the global box office — a strong result for a documentary but insufficient to recoup the studio’s total outlay, given that exhibitors retain roughly half of ticket sales. It subsequently moved to Amazon Prime.

The controversy unfolded against a broader backdrop of media companies reaching financial accommodations with Mr. Trump. Paramount paid $16 million last summer to settle a lawsuit tied to “60 Minutes” that the company had initially called meritless. Earlier, Disney paid $15 million to Mr. Trump’s presidential library to resolve a defamation suit against ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Ms. Warren said Amazon’s response to the lawmakers’ inquiry “reeks of desperation to please Donald Trump.”

Mr. Johnson echoed that sentiment, saying Amazon’s refusal to answer specific questions only deepened his concerns.

“If there were truly nothing to see, then Amazon would have answered these basic questions,” he said.