Wife of new Amazon CEO donated to the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders, a staunch critic of Amazon, introduced the Stop BEZOS Act to prevent wealthy people from being subsidised

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) arrives at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. (AFP via Getty)

Elana Jassy, the wife of Amazon’s newly appointed successor, Andy Jassy, donated to the 2016 presidential campaign of senator Bernie Sanders, a vocal critic of the e-commerce giant. 

Ms Jassy, who is a fashion designer for Eddie Bauer Inc and also Amazon’s marketing manager, donated $250 to Mr Sander’s campaign as he ran against Hillary Clinton and others, reported Business Insider.  

According to records published by the Center for Responsive Politics, she also donated to Ms Clinton during the same year and made a number of donations to Barrack Obama in 2008.

Busniness mogul Jeff Bezos announced Tuesday he would step down as the CEO of the $1.7 trillion global retail giant Amazon later this year. Mr Bezos, who is the world’s richest man, would be replaced by Mr Jassy, the CEO of Amazon Web Services.

“I’m excited to announce that this Q3 I’ll transition to Executive Chair of the Amazon Board and Andy Jassy will become CEO,” Mr Bezos said in a letter to employees.

The newest CEO of Amazon married his wife Elana Rochelle Caplan in 1997, the same year he joined the e-commerce site.

While Mr Jassy limited his donations to the Amazon corporate political action committee, which contributes to both parties, his wife donated to a number of Democrats, including staunch Amazon critic Mr Sanders.

In 2018, Mr Sanders, an independent Vermont senator, introduced the Stop BEZOS Act bill in the senate to tax big companies the full amount of welfare claimed by their workers because of the low-wages they receive.

“Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man alive, became $83 billion richer over the past nine months while Amazon made record profits. Meanwhile, Amazon workers are risking their lives to fill holiday orders and are denied paid sick leave and hazard pay. This ugly corporate greed must end,” Mr Bernie tweeted in December, 2020.

Amazon, in response, denied the claims and said, “everyone makes at least $15/hr *double the federal minimum wage*”.

The incoming CEO of Amazon will have to tackle ongoing issues with labour unions, allegations about the company’s working conditions, and calls of scrutiny of wealth by government.