Judge Criticizes FTC Block On Staples-Office Depot Merger
A federal judge says he is disturbed by allegations that the FTC tried to alter Amazon’s testimony on the Staples-Office Depot merger case by forcing one of Amazon’s execs to lie on the record.
Prentis Wilson—an Amazon exec who works on the e-commerce giant’s new Amazon Business site that sells office goods to businesses—testified that the FTC attempted to get him to sign a legal declaration saying things he didn’t believe were true, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Wilson (pictured) is an important witness because his testimony could shed light on whether or not Amazon’s entry into the office supply space will ensure competition—should the Staples and Office Depot merger go through.
FTC lawyer Tara Reinhart says the commission never tried to force Wilson’s hand, and Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered Wilson’s testimony be released to the public. [WSJ]
