Amazon
Amazon's legal team's filings reveal that the tech giant has asked the Federal Claims Court for permission to depose President Trump, and Secretaries of Defense James Mattis and Mark Esper. Amazon is also seeking depositions from several other Department of Defense employees. The named individuals that Amazon is seeking depositions from were labeled by the company as "instrumental" in the process of awarding the contract. The move is part of Amazon's greater push to prove that Trump abused the power of the presidency to interfere with the JEDI contract proceedings in favor of Microsoft
Speaking to CNBC, Amazon had this to say; "President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use his position as President and Commander in Chief to interfere with government functions - including federal procurements - to advance his personal agenda. The preservation of public confidence in the nation's procurement process requires discovery and supplementation of the administrative record, particularly in light of President Trump's order to 'screw Amazon.' The question is whether the President of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of the DoD to pursue his own personal and political ends."
Amazon's legal battle began shortly after the JEDI contract was awarded to Microsoft and was fueled by allegations by Mattis' former speechwriter that Trump directly ordered Mattis to "screw Amazon" out of the contract. Trump's animosity towards Amazon is fueled by Jeff Bezos' ownership of The Washington Post, which Trump has claimed has a bias against him. Amazon's chief argument in its lawsuit is that Trump abused the power of his office to steer the contract away from Amazon due to his animosity towards the company.
Amazon's lawsuit also points out other instances where the President allegedly abused the power of his office, such as alleged interference in the awarding of border wall construction contracts or the relocation of the FBI headquarters.
