Amazon.com Inc has sued New York’s attorney general to stop the state from taking legal action over its early Covid-19 response, including its firing of activist Christian Smalls, Reuters reported.

The retailer drew scrutiny 10 months ago when workers protested conditions at a Staten Island warehouse and it fired Smalls for violating a paid quarantine. Senators questioned Amazon about the incident, the city announced a probe, and State Attorney General Letitia James said the company may have violated the law.

In a complaint in Brooklyn federal court, Amazon accused James of overstepping bounds by legally threatening the company and demanding remedies like its surrender of profit. Federal labour and safety laws preempt those of the state, from which Amazon is seeking injunctive relief, its suit said.