What's the eBay response to 60 minutes segment on harassing journalists for trying to do their jobs?

[peszar-0]

This is SICK tactics by eBay to try and bring down a journalist who is trying to bring to light a crackdown on 2nd Amendment rights. And the CEO exits with a golden parachute. **bleep**!!!!!!

[4winds]

I just watched this also. It sickened me to say the least. Why would a rich, powerful man be stupid enough to do something like that....because they believe they are above it all..............

[mam98031]

---

@jersey..authentix wrote:

I guess the only question left is, who is running the show now? Does the same mentality exist?

---

Is that a serious question?  Since it was a handful of employees FOUR years ago and all were fired quite quickly, I don't see the point of your question.  Seems if this was still an issue there would have been something found while the FBI did their 2-3 year investigation.

I know some would like to believe the worst about Ebay for whatever reason they may have.  But sometimes reality and facts get in the way.

[mam98031]

---

@cardxcraft wrote:

Ditto, lol.  Imagine how the Steiners felt when they realized it was Ebay Executives who were leading the charge, and not just a few customer service agents.  Whew!  

Btw, I hope they're ex-Ebay employees.  In fact, I hope it goes without saying.

---

OMG, all but two are in prison.  One was never charged [Wenig] and Gilbert has been convicted but is awaiting sentencing because he is currently battling cancer.  So you honestly think that Ebay would keep them employed?!?!?!??  That is a pretty strange question if you know the facts of this subject.

[mam98031]

---

@4winds wrote:

I just watched this also. It sickened me to say the least. Why would a rich, powerful man be stupid enough to do something like that....because they believe they are above it all..............

---

Were they all rich?  Wenig certainly, but he was never charged.  The other 7 IDK what their net worth is.

[vintagecraze50]

First, not political commentary: This is an example of how out of control things can get when info like this is posted and SOME insane peoples reactions to it.

Second, I am not condoning eBay’s reaction to this in any shape way or form. However, I am in agreement that negative comments in blogs CAN and do at times have a lot of INFLUENCE on peoples perceptions.

Third, I have not read all of this Fido’s comment, but I had read many of the other negative posters comment on that blog in the past. Some calling Mr Wenig “devil Wenig” and other derogatory comments and doing stuff like that continuously on that blog in the past. So am I to assume Mr Wenig is the devil. Seriously not true or representative of Mr Wenig and COMPLETELY USELESS info to sellers on here.

Fourth, they screwed up badly in their reactions to this protecting the company.

Fifth, EBay’s reputation does not hinge entirely on this event. I am certain they will continue to be successful .

[mam98031]

@vintagecraze50 

What do you mean by "I am not condoning eBay’s reaction to this in any shape way or form. "?

And what does this mean "Fourth, they screwed up badly in their reactions to this protecting the company."?  Specifically, what did they do that you see as wrong?

[vintagecraze50]

They seemed to get bad legal advice on how to handle it and for whatever reason lost control of what their people were doing.

[deblgree-0]

Thank

[farmalljr]

---

@vintagecraze50 wrote:

They seemed to get bad legal advice on how to handle it and for whatever reason lost control of what their people were doing.

---

If you seem to think you are a better lawyer then those that eBay hired, what's stopping you from applying to work there?

The lawyers they hired, I'm certain, were not some flunkies that were bottom of their class at graduation. You are acting like this billion dollar corporation was hiring clowns for legal representatives. That's simply not how it works. 

You also seem to think you can sue and win in court, if someone publishes articles you don't like. That's not how freedom of speech or freedom of the press works. One could just as easily say, your "feelings" and comments on this matter, could incite an unstable person to act badly toward the Steiners or posters on their blog. Should your opinions be silenced too, because some people don't like or agree with it?

I don't believe, for one second, that control was lost. It would appear that it was directed and orchestrated. A reasonable person can deduce that once your lawyers tell you there is nothing to be done, any actions outside of that (like what happened) is stepping outside of the peaceful and LEGAL means of dealing with "problems". That orders and comments were made about "ashes" and take them down, just makes it clear that there were actors doing whatever at any cost.  You can choose to believe whatever you want. It does not take away what happened. The fact is, terrible things WERE done to a couple. It wasn't the janitor at eBay. It wasn't some mentally ill kook watching from the sidelines. 

You can think whatever you want. It doesn't take away what actually happened. That can't be undone. 

[valueaddedresource]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

@jersey..authentix wrote:

I guess the only question left is, who is running the show now? Does the same mentality exist?

---

Is that a serious question?  Since it was a handful of employees FOUR years ago and all were fired quite quickly

---

@mam98031 that's not exactly true - Philip Cooke was not fired quickly, in fact they actually gave him a promotion and a raise.

eBay became aware of the events in August 2019 with their internal investigation going into September 2019.

The others were fired or in Wenig's case allowed to step down in September 2019 but inexplicably Cooke was allowed to stay and promoted - they didn't fire him until June 2020 when the initial criminal charges were filed.

From the court documents (keep in mind the salaries listed are in addition to the $200K+/yr Santa Clara police pension he was and is *still* collecting despite having pled guilty and now served ~13 months in federal prison):

At the time of events in August 2019, Mr. Cooke was Senior Manager of Security Operations for eBay’s Global Security Team where he earned an annual salary of approximately $185,000...

...By June 2020, following the termination of Jim Baugh and Brian Gilbert, he was promoted by eBay to Director of Security Operations. He continued to report to Dan Cory, who had been promoted to Senior Director of Safety and Security; in this position, Mr. Cooke made an annual salary of approximately $205,000.

[vintagecraze50]

Uh technically some of the actor were mentally ill. Mr Baugh was an out of control alcoholic. Many of the younger employees felt pressured to do what they did under his direction. He was OUT OF control. His lawyer stated that he was hearing daily about doing something about the problem from the high ups, but when all legally available means to work on this failed, he possibly set out to do it illegally. 

[vintagecraze50]

Read the entire story from Value added resource website to understand what went on with the legal stuff. They followed the advise of their lawyer to the tee, looking for all non illegal ways  to try to take the website down. Whether that in itself was wrong that might have been BAD ADVICE. 

[vintagecraze50]

Lawyers, no matter how polished and pretty they are with degrees from Harvard are not perfect. They can give bad legal counsel as well.

[vintagecraze50]

Regarding opinions posted on the blog. Of what significance , helpfulness, to anyone someone blogging ‘DEVIL WENIG”, or many other comments similar to that on there. If I am running my own business on the internet and people put that stuff on there I am going to moderate it. The one who posted that could sue me for taking it off because people can sue you for anything, but may not win.

[valueaddedresource]

---

@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Lawyers, no matter how polished and pretty they are with degrees from Harvard are not perfect. They can give bad legal counsel as well.

---

Fun fact - Chief Legal Officer Marie Oh Huber, who had advised there wasn't a strong case to pursue and was then cced on Wymer's email to Baugh that said, in part, "ANYTHING we can do to solve it should be explored.....Whatever. It. Takes", is still Chief Legal Officer at eBay today.

Not only that, but in the wake of the internal investigation, eBay shuffled around the org structure to move the Safety & Security unit to the Legal Department from the Global Operations division.

According to the internal report, that unit now reports to eBay Legal VP, Chief of Litigation, who of course reports to the Chief Legal Officer - meaning the entire security apparatus at eBay now resides ultimately under Oh Huber's purview.

Apparently the board was and is quite happy with Oh Huber's job performance. 🤷‍