Zuckerberg interviewed by FTC as part of antitrust probe into Facebook

The tech CEO's interview does not necessarily mean the agency will pursue a lawsuit against the social media giant.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified this week at a Federal Trade Commission investigative hearing as part of the agency’s antitrust investigation into the social network, according to three people familiar with the case. FTC staff often interview witnesses under oath as part of their investigations in a process similar to a deposition and nearly always in cases they expect to lead to a lawsuit. The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the probe, said the step doesn’t necessarily signal that the agency will ultimately pursue an antitrust lawsuit. Nevertheless, the testimony, conducted under oath and remotely over the course of two days this week, could be used to help the FTC and state attorneys general build a case against the social network. Staff from the states were also involved in the hearing, according to one of the people.

Zuckerberg testified in July before a House panel as part of an antitrust probe of the tech industry, where he faced stiff questioning about the company’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. In one terse exchange, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) questioned whether Zuckerberg threatened to copy rivals if they didn’t agree to sell to the tech giant, reading directly from text messages between Zuckerberg and Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom and from messages between Systrom and a venture capitalist. Zuckerberg denied that he had threatened Systrom — who sold Instagram to Facebook for $1 billion in 2012 and left the company in 2018 — or Evan Spiegel, the CEO of rival photo-sharing app Snap. Spiegel has reportedly rebuffed Facebook acquisition offers at least twice. The FTC faced significant criticism for not seeking to interview Zuckerberg — the company’s controlling shareholder in addition to its chairman and CEO — as part of an earlier investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

At an Aug. 5 Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing, FTC Chair Joe Simons declined to say whether the agency was planning to interview Zuckerberg in its antitrust probe. But he defended the FTC’s decision not to seek testimony under oath in its earlier privacy case. “Sometimes it’s important to depose the CEO, and sometimes it’s not necessary. When it’s important we do it,” Simons told senators. In the privacy case, “we had emails from lots and lots of people. We did not need Zuckerberg in a deposition for that case.” Facebook eventually paid $5 billion to settle that probe and several internal changes including the creation of an independent committee to oversee the company’s privacy decisions. The FTC said the settlement would give it “unparalleled access to Facebook’s decision-making.” "We are committed to cooperating with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s inquiry and answering the questions the agency may have," Facebook spokesperson Chris Sgro said. The FTC declined to comment.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/20/facebook-ceo-interviewed-by-ftc-as-part-of-antitrust-probe-399492

Portland police arrest truck attack suspect Marquise Love, jail records show

Marquise Love was booked shortly after 5:30 a.m. local time, records show

Portland police have arrested the 25-year-old man accused of viciously attacking a truck driver who was seen on video being violently beaten, jail records show. Marquise Lee Love turned himself in and was booked in the Multnomah County Detention Center on Friday shortly after 8:30 a.m. local time, according to jail records. He was charged with assault, coercion and riot, all three of which are felonies, records show. Love, who also goes by the name “Keese Love,” appears to have been captured on video repeatedly punching and kicking a man who was later identified in reports as being Adam Haner.

In a recent interview with local affiliate FOX 12 Oregon, Haner said after crashing his car, someone was “yanking” him out of his truck “before I even got my door open.” “I was just standing for myself as a citizen,” he told the station, “and if you can’t do that on a street, then what can you do?” Haner was seen on video revving the engine of his truck and slowly rolling the vehicle forward until he speeds away – all while people from the group can be seen running up to the vehicle, kicking and shouting at it. Just moments before he drove off, someone from the crowd was seen punching and jumping his girlfriend, who was identified in reports as Tammie Martin. Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a 911 call from someone who reported that protesters “chased a white Ford” 4x4 truck, which then crashed in the downtown area, according to a department press release. A caller told police an estimated nine to 10 people began “beating the guy,” the caller stated. “Investigators learned that the victim may have been trying to help a transgender female who had some of her things stolen in the area … where this incident began,” police said late Monday. Haner, who was still unconscious when police arrived, was taken to a local hospital and was later released. He is now home recovering. It's not clear if police are seeking any additional suspects in connection with the attack, but on Wednesday, Portland Police Bureau Captain Tina Jones told Fox News, “We are investigating any criminal acts in relation to this incident.”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-police-arrest-truck-attack-suspect-marquise-love-jail-records

Booking

https://www.mcso.us/PAID/Home/Booking/1507178

>>10371926

Pence is the reason, Gen Flynn was fired. Pence told POTUS that Gen. Flynn lied to him. He is the start of Flynn's legal problems. Who knows what Pence told investigators..