It was reported Sunday that the individual who provided tabloid the National Enquirer with Jeff Bezos‘s racy text messages was the brother of the billionaire Amazon CEO’s girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, Michael Sanchez.
Although it remains unknown exactly how Michael Sanchez got access to the messages, The Daily Beast reported he was the one who leaked them to the Enquirer.
The tabloid claimed last month that Bezos — who announced his divorce from longtime wife MacKenzie — and Lauren Sanchez were having an affair. The Daily Beast said Republican operatives pressured Michael Sanchez to give the Enquirer the text messages, and that the tabloid had gone forward with the story concerning Bezos after receiving President Donald Trump‘s “knowledge and appreciation.”
Earlier this month, Bezos accused the Enquirer and its parent company, American Media, of “extortion and blackmail” after they threatened to leak nude photos of him unless he dropped his investigation into how the outlet acquired the private messages between him and Lauren Sanchez.
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A lawyer for American Media recently said the Enquirer’s emails to Bezos “absolutely” didn’t constitute any form of blackmail.
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There is no evidence thus far to suggest Michael Sanchez hacked his sister’s phone for the messages.
It was reported in January that MacKenzie Bezos would earn a record-breaking settlement as part of her divorce from the Amazon CEO.
Several late-night television comedians, including Trevor Noah of The Daily Show, mocked and criticized Bezos on Monday night for taking “dick pics:”
Saturday Night Live also poked fun at the Bezos nude photos scandal in its “cold open” sketch over the weekend in which it spoofed a panel discussion on Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.
Trump has long had a feud with Bezos and even called him “Jeff Bozo” on Twitter after news of the latter’s divorce emerged. Amazon also purchased The Washington Post in 2013, something that has also fueled the president’s anger since the newspaper has published many negative reports about him since he took office two years ago.
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