Amazon cites Fox News segment, Trump rally in formal protest of Pentagon’s $10B JEDI award

Amazon filed its formal protest over Microsoft’s victory in a $10 billion Pentagon cloud computing contract, citing video proof that the bidding course of was improperly influenced by political strain from the White Home.

The protest was filed below seal Friday within the U.S. Courtroom of Federal Claims, however an exhibit lists 4 movies that present a glimpse into the corporate’s authorized technique. They embody President Donald Trump’s feedback to supporters and reporters, in addition to a Fox Information host explicitly urging Trump to maintain the Pentagon from awarding the deal to Amazon. Amazon requested the grievance be stored below seal to guard commerce secrets and techniques.

JEDI, because it’s known as, is a 10-year contract to construct cloud infrastructure for the navy. Amazon was lengthy seen because the front-runner for the deal till Microsoft emerged because the shock winner in October.

In a single clip cited by Amazon in court docket paperwork, Trump instructed reporters he was listening to criticism of the procurement course of for JEDI. Trump stated he was “getting super complaints concerning the contract with the Pentagon and with Amazon … they’re saying it wasn’t competitively bid.”

A ProPublica investigation in August advised Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos have been near the JEDI venture since its inception. A brand new guide written by a former aide to Protection Secretary James Mattis alleges that Trump known as Mattis in the summertime of 2018 and directed him to “screw Amazon” out of the contract.

Amazon and Microsoft, two Seattle-area corporations with sturdy cloud companies, have been the 2 finalists for JEDI. Amazon Net Providers was lengthy seen because the frontrunner however final month DoD chosen Microsoft’s Azure for the venture in what many considered as an upset. Microsoft sought to intervene within the case in paperwork filed Friday, given its position within the bid.

Replace, Nov. 23, 10:40 a.m. PT: A Microsoft spokesperson despatched this assertion to GeekWire:

“We’re able to get to work so the women and men in uniform who serve our nation can entry the vital new know-how they urgently require. Now we have confidence within the certified employees on the Division of Protection, and we imagine the information will present they ran an in depth, thorough and truthful course of in figuring out the wants of the warfighter have been greatest met by Microsoft.”

The president is a frequent critic of Amazon on a spread of points. Trump has taken intention at Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos as a result of he owns The Washington Put up and pushed the U.S. Postal Service to get a greater deal from the corporate.

Amazon pointed to Trump’s previous criticisms in one other of the video clips submitted to the court docket report.

“I’ve respect for Jeff Bezos however he purchased The Washington Put up to have political affect and, I’ve acquired to inform you, now we have a distinct nation than we used to have,” Trump stated, talking at a marketing campaign rally in Texas. “He owns Amazon. He needs political affect so Amazon will profit from it.”

Throughout that speech, Trump stated he would enact insurance policies that make it simpler to sue newspapers, together with The Washington Put up, for working unfavorable protection of him.

“They’re going to have such issues,” he stated. “One of many issues I’m going to do, and that is solely going to make it more durable for me, and I’ve by no means stated this earlier than, however one of many issues I’m going to do if I win … is I’m going to open up our libel legal guidelines. So once they write purposely unfavorable and horrible and false articles we are able to sue them and win numerous cash.”

An Amazon Net Providers spokesperson defined the corporate’s place in an announcement to GeekWire:

“AWS is uniquely skilled and certified to supply the vital know-how the U.S. navy wants, and stays dedicated to supporting the DoD’s modernization efforts. We imagine it’s vital for our nation that the federal government and its elected leaders administer procurements objectively and in a fashion that’s free from political affect. Quite a few facets of the JEDI analysis course of contained clear deficiencies, errors, and unmistakable bias – and it’s essential that these issues be examined and rectified.”

Amazon additionally included video of Protection Chief Dana Deasy’s Oct. 29 affirmation testimony and a clip from Fox Information’ “Swamp Watch” that focuses on Amazon’s dealings with the federal government. Throughout Deasy’s testimony, senators requested whether or not the White Home had interfered with the JEDI procurement course of.

Within the “Swamp Watch” section, on July 21, host Steve Hilton laid out a timeline of connections between Amazon and the Division of Protection and different federal companies — together with intensive lobbying efforts, the corporate’s funding of a assume tank that revealed op-eds on the JEDI contract, and a protracted record of former authorities officers who’ve gone to work for the tech big. Hilton implored the president, a frequent Fox Information viewer, to intervene within the procurement course of:

“Now, some are attempting to place this as political interference. The New York Instances dredged up a former federal procurement official who stated it might be improper for any president to affect the contracting course of. Yeah, proper, we must always go away it to the bureaucrats who’re continuously corrupted by profitable job affords and different bribes from huge companies. It’s not simply applicable however important that the president kills this contract.”

Hilton went on to say that “big monopolized contracts like this are dangerous coverage.” He added, “Placing all of our protection’s cloud computing in a single basket permits for a lot extra corruption and safety dangers than dividing it up into a number of, smaller contracts.”

He concluded, “Mr. President, if you wish to preserve draining the swamp, don’t let the Bezos Bailout fill it again up.”