Jeff Bezos: Federal prosecutors investigating National Enquirer's alleged blackmail of Amazon CEO

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Federal prosecutors are investigating whether the the National Enquirer's parent company violated a cooperation deal with the US Southern District of New York after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos published a blog alleging the tabloid attempted to blackmail him over an affair. Mr Bezos — the world's richest man, and a frequent target of Donald Trump's ire — wrote in a blog post on Thursday that the parent company of the tabloid had attempted to force him to release what he said would be a false statement that the organisation's reporting on his private life was not politically motivated. Mr Bezos's post came a month after the National Enquirer published lurid texts between the billionaire and former Fox TV anchor Lauren Sanchez, prompting the Amazon founder to announce he is getting a divorce. The new investigation into the National Enquirer's parent company appears to follow after the company agreed to cooperate with investigators after it was determined it had worked to faciliatata hush payment between Mr Trump and former Playboy playmate Karen acDougal, who alleges she had an affair with him before he became president.