A lawyer representing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently retracted earlier statements regarding the agency’s resource limitations and staff turnover impacting its preparation for an upcoming trial related to Amazon’s Prime service.
The attorney, Jonathan Cohen, initially requested an extension of the trial scheduled for September, arguing that budget constraints and staff reductions were hindering progress.
Later that day, however, Cohen reversed his stance, conveying to U.S. District Judge John Chun through a brief note that his previous remarks were incorrect.
Cohen clarified, writing, “I apologize for my previous statements: They were incorrect.” He affirmed the commission’s readiness to proceed with the case, saying they had adequate resources.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson also addressed the situation, stating in a Thursday release that Cohen’s earlier comments did not reflect the organization’s commitment.
“From my first day, I have been clear that we will allocate necessary resources for this matter,” Ferguson remarked. “The FTC is unwavering in its commitment to challenge Big Tech.”
When approached for comments, Amazon chose not to respond to the FTC’s shift in stance.
Cohen’s initial appeal sought to postpone a trial originating from a FTC lawsuit against Amazon, which charged the company with signing up consumers for its Prime service without their explicit consent and complicating the cancellation process.
The call for delay coincided with fiscal tightening spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.
The judge questioned if these prudential measures had impaired the FTC’s case preparation, prompting Cohen’s mischaracterized remarks.
He suggested that the so-called “Fork in the road” communication from January had led to some staff opting to leave the organization.
He also pointed out that there was a hiring freeze, coupled with limits on acquiring court-related materials and travel, affecting their operations.
