Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is not allowed to bid for the Washington Commanders, the team’s banker, Bank of America, has told the billionaire, a person briefed on the sale process confirmed to The Athletic.

The person added that Bezos being barred from bidding has been a reality for months.

Bezos owns the Washington Post, which published a series of stories documenting a culture of sexual harassment at the team that ultimately helped build the pressure to sell. But beyond that, team owner Daniel Snyder has long felt, those close to him have said over the years, that the newspaper has endeavored to oust him from the NFL.

“It’s a free country, he can sell to whomever he wants,” the person briefed on the sale process said. Bezos, because he is barred from bidding, has not had access to the team’s finances.

The New York Post on Friday first reported on Snyder keeping Bezos away from the sale process and added that the Commanders owner may decide to maintain control of the franchise he’s owned since 1999 if the bids do not reach his desired price.