Democrats will probe Trump's actions on AT & T and Amazon: Axios

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When Democrats take control of the US house, they plan to investigate the Trump government's attempt to block AT & T Inc.T.N) to acquire Time Warner, and if officials have sought to punish Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN.O) by urging the US Post Office to raise transport prices for the world's largest e-commerce company, said a senior Democrat on Sunday.

Speaking to Axios online publication, Representative Adam Schiff, who is expected to be the new chairman of the House's intelligence committee, said Democrats would examine whether Trump would have used the powers of the federal government to punish businesses. .

Representative Elijah Cummings, future chairman of the government's Oversight Committee and House Reform, said the committee "might want to inquire" if the White House reacts against Amazon and AT & T.

Cummings also said on ABC this week that he intended to investigate the fact that Trump is killing his intention to relocate the FBI's new headquarters, as this could adversely affect his business interests in the Trump Hotel's across the street.

Since they took control of the House of Representatives in midterm elections last week, Democrats have pledged to open investigations on a wide range of topics involving the Trump administration.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post, while Time Warner's holdings include CNN. Trump has often criticized the two outlets for their critical coverage.

"We have a responsibility to know it," Schiff told Axios during an interview that will air on Sunday on HBO.

Schiff said that Trump "secretly met the postmaster (general) with the aim of persuading him to raise postal rates on Amazon … It seems like an effort by the president to use the instruments of state power to punish Jeff Bezos and the Washington Post, "said Schiff.

It's unclear which committees can look into the problems of the company, because the Schiff Intelligence Committee would have no control. A spokesman for Schiff declined to comment further.

AT & T and Amazon.com both declined to comment on Sunday. The White House did not comment immediately.

Trump has repeatedly complained that Amazon does not pay the US Postal Service a fair price for parcel delivery. Trump said, without giving any evidence, that it would cost American taxpayers billions of dollars, and he threatened to raise the company's postal rates.

Trump opposed the merger of AT & T-Time Warner as a candidate and repeatedly attacked CNN. Last week, the press card of a CNN reporter at the White House was suspended.

The Department of Justice is seeking the approval of a federal judge for the acquisition of Time Warner by AT & T for $ 85.4 billion.

With a split decision on congressional elections last week, Democrats are considering a cautious approach. House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi told CBS, "Face the Nation," that Democrats would "not conduct any investigation for political ends, but to seek the truth."

Cummings promised a "methodical" approach in his investigations. "I'm not going to give summons to appear as someone who distributes sweets on Halloween," Cummings said.