A government watchdog group has accused Rep. Paul Ryan of accepting special benefits for his latest book from Amazon.com in violation of House ethics rules.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint Wednesday with the Office of Congressional Ethics, accusing Amazon of giving the Wisconsin Republican’s book “The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea” preferential treatment because of his status as a congressman.
Amazon and Ryan’s publisher, Hachette, have been locked in a standoff for months over the pricing of e-books. As a result, the online mega-retailer has slowed delivery on a wide range of Hachette titles and has made it difficult for customers to find and order books from the some of the publisher’s most popular authors, including J.K. Rowling and Michael Connelly.
As with other Hachette titles, Amazon didn’t make Ryan’s book available for pre-order, which typically hurts sales, when it became available Aug. 19.
The following day, Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee and House Budget Committee chairman, appeared on CNBC and criticizing Amazon’s treatment of Hachette authors.
CREW said that shortly after, Amazon made the lawmaker’s book easily discoverable on its website, discounted it by 25 percent and shipped it immediately.
“Rep. Ryan’s way forward appears to be accepting improper favors from the nation’s largest bookseller,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Amazon won’t sell J.K. Rowling’s latest fiction, but is happy to promote Paul Ryan’s tome on conservatism? Obviously, something other than potential sales is driving this decision.”
House ethics rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts given as a result of their congressional employment.
Ryan spokesman Robert Swift denied any wrongdoing by the lawmaker.
“All activities related to the book were done in compliance with House rules,” he said.
