WASHINGTON: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the billionaire proprietor of the Washington Put up, stated on Monday (Oct 28) that his selection for the US newspaper not to endorse a candidate in the presidential election was “a principled choice” and denied it was linked to non-public pursuits.
In an op-ed posted to the newspaper’s web site, Bezos argued that with belief in information media falling, steps are wanted to handle accusations of partisanship.
“What presidential endorsements really do is create a notion of bias. A notion of non-independence. Ending them is a principled choice,” he wrote.
The editorial board of the influential Put up has endorsed candidates for a lot of the final 4 a long time – all of them Democrats – earlier than deciding to remain on the sidelines in one of the vital polarising elections in US history.
Republican Donald Trump is locked in a too-close-to-call race for the White Home with Vice President Kamala Harris, with polls displaying the 2 neck-and-neck within the seven swing states that may seemingly resolve the election.
Bezos additionally rejected allegations that he had made the choice for private achieve, dismissing considerations relating to a gathering between the CEO of Blue Origin – the billionaire’s spacecraft firm – and Trump the day of the announcement.
“I might additionally prefer to be clear that no quid professional quo of any sort is at work right here. Neither marketing campaign nor candidate was consulted or knowledgeable at any degree or in any approach about this choice,” he wrote.
