Democratic lawmakers are raising serious questions about Amazon’s decision to spend $40 million on a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.
According to reports, lawmakers sent a letter to Amazon’s CEO asking for more details about how the deal was made. They are especially concerned about the high price tag, along with an additional $35 million reportedly spent on marketing the film.
The documentary, titled Melania, was produced by Melania Trump’s own company and directed by filmmaker Brett Ratner.
Lawmakers argue that the deal could potentially raise ethical concerns, including whether it violated federal anti-bribery laws. They are questioning if the large investment was an attempt to gain favor with President Trump’s administration.
They are now asking Amazon to explain what communications took place with the Trump family and whether proper anti-corruption rules were followed.
Amazon responded by saying the company purchased the documentary because it believed customers would enjoy the content.
However, the film has not performed as expected. Reports say it received poor reviews and has only earned around $16 million so far.
The situation has sparked debate about the relationship between business, politics, and media, and whether companies should be more transparent about deals like this.