NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Bezos probe concludes mistress’ brother was Enquirer’s source

WASHINGTON

Private investigators working for Jeff Bezos have concluded that the brother of the Amazon CEO’s mistress leaked the couple’s intimate text messages to the National Enquirer, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday.

The person wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

The findings add to the intrigue surrounding the clash between the pro-Trump tabloid and the world’s richest man. Bezos’ investigators have suggested the Enquirer’s coverage of his affair was driven by dirty politics. Trump has been highly critical of Bezos over his ownership of The Washington Post and Amazon, and the Post’s coverage of the White House.

The brother, Michael Sanchez, is a supporter of President Donald Trump’s and an acquaintance of Trump allies Roger Stone and Carter Page. He is also the manager of his sister, Lauren Sanchez, a former TV anchor. The investigators have not said how they believe Michael Sanchez came into possession of his sister’s intimate messages.

Michael Sanchez did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. In a Jan. 31 tweet, he said without evidence that Bezos’ longtime security consultant, Gavin de Becker, who is leading the private investigation, “spreads fake, unhinged conservative conspiracy theories.”

An attorney for the tabloid’s parent company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

On Sunday, an attorney for the head of American Media, which owns the Enquirer, said that the information for the story had been provided by a “reliable source” well-known to Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. The source had provided information to the company for at least seven years, Elkan Abramowitz, an attorney for American Media Inc. chief executive David Pecker, said on ABC’s “This Week.”

He was asked if Sanchez was the source, and he said: “I’m not permitted to tell you or confirm or deny who the source is.”

But the Daily Beast, citing people inside American Media Inc., reported that Sanchez was the Enquirer’s source.

Nicki Minaj pulls out of BET concert after network’s tweet

LOS ANGELES

Nicki Minaj says she’s canceling her appearance at the BET Experience Concert after the network tweeted about her and fellow rapper Cardi B.

Minaj said Monday on social media that she won’t perform at the concert or BET Awards. It comes after BET tweeted Sunday that Minaj was “being dragged by her lacefront” after Cardi B’s Grammy win for best rap album.

In a statement, BET apologized to Minaj for the “hurt, disappointment and confusion that this post has caused.” The network says it will conduct an internal investigation. The tweet has been deleted.

A rep for Minaj didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The seventh annual concert will take place June 20-22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles ahead of the BET Awards on June 23.

Rapper YoungBoy arrested on disorderly conduct charge

ATLANTA

Officials say the rapper known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again has been arrested at an Atlanta hotel on disorderly conduct charges.

News outlets report that Kentrell Gaulden, better known as NBA YoungBoy, was arrested Monday afternoon along with Starr Thigpen at the Hyatt House.

The Atlanta Police Department says in a news release that housekeeping staff entered the room, which they thought was unoccupied, and Gaulden instructed Thigpen to get the staff out of the room.

Police say Thigpen struck the housekeeper in the face and the fight continued in the hallway.

The two also were charged with marijuana possession involving less than an ounce.

Associated Press