Google chief gives evidence at fraud trial of Ozy Media founder

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai gave evidence on Friday at the federal financial conspiracy trial surrounding startup Ozy Media, countering founder Carlos Watson’s alleged claims that the search giant once sought to buy Ozy.

Google did consider hiring Watson for a high-level news executive job in 2021 and putting $25 million into Ozy in something of a trade-off for luring him away, Mr Pichai told jurors.

“Mr Watson was a critical part of Ozy Media, and we were considering making...