So, about 14 years ago, one “Fast” Fred Hassan, then at Schering-Plough’s helm, thought it a wise idea to attack a federal agency that regulated his industry, in an interview with the WSJ. We covered it, and expressed at the time, that he would soon reap the whirlwind, for trying to blame his obfuscations (about the Vytorin studies) on the FDA, itself.
Within two years, both he and Schering-Plough itself… were… GONE. That was no vendetta, it was the law being applied to a guy who thought he was above it. [Sound like familiar theme, here? Yep.]
Now, to be fair, though Fred walked away with close to $220 million, he was NOT a major controlling shareholder of old SGP. Bezos cannot so easily be shown the gate, by his shareholders — but he may well regret bringing what amounts to a negative ad campaign / PR offensive (using stenographers in the MSM) against the FTC, this week:
…Amazon has accused the US Trade Commission of harassing its top executives, including founder Jeff Bezos and chief executive Andy Jassy, as part of a probe into the ecommerce group’s Prime membership scheme.
Since March 2021, the regulator has been investigating whether Amazon uses deceptive techniques to lure customers into signing up for Prime, the subscription service that offers free delivery and other benefits at a cost of $139 a year.
The FTC is also examining whether Amazon unfairly complicates the process for customers who want to cancel their membership.
In a filing from August 5 that was made public by the regulator on Monday, Amazon said the investigation had become “unduly burdensome” on employees and executives after at least 19 were served individual subpoenas — or Civil Investigative Demands — to give evidence.
The company called for the FTC to “quash or limit” the demands, which it alleged served no other purpose other than to “harass Amazon’s highest-ranking executives and disrupt its business operations….”
The FTC’s investigation has been extended to four other Amazon subscription services including its ebook service Kindle Unlimited and music streaming platform Amazon Music….
Well — here’s a novel idea, Mr. Bezos… start complying with both the letter, and the spirit, of federal law… then we might… talk. Out, grinning. Ever grinning….
नमस्ते
Powerline Lies... 