Paramount Faces Pressure Over Trump Lawsuit Settlement
Paramount Global is under scrutiny from CBS stars and Democratic lawmakers as it contemplates settling a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump.
Pressure is mounting on Paramount Global from both internal and external forces as it considers settling a significant lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, amounting to $20 billion, accuses CBS News of election interference related to its handling of a ‘60 Minutes’ interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The interview, which was part of a primetime election special, earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Edited Interview, prompting Trump to criticize the Emmys on Truth Social.
Democratic senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have urged Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, not to settle, arguing that it would embolden Trump’s attacks on the media. Despite these pleas, Redstone reportedly favors settling to facilitate Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media and avoid potential FCC retaliation.
The controversy has led to internal turmoil at CBS, with ‘60 Minutes’ executive producer Bill Owens resigning over editorial interference concerns. CBS stars, including ‘Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert, have publicly criticized Paramount’s management for attempting to suppress negative Trump stories until after the merger. Legal experts have questioned the validity of Trump’s lawsuit, yet his recent settlement victories with other media companies loom large. This situation continues to unfold, with significant implications for media freedom and corporate governance.