On Wednesday, a U.S. senator once again urged an investigation into allegations of bribery involving Paramount after it reportedly agreed to pay $16 million to settle a legal dispute with former President Donald Trump—a case that the media company had originally claimed lacked any basis.
The president filed a $20-billion lawsuit against the parent company of CBS News, alleging that its “60 Minutes” segment had misleadingly altered an interview featuring his 2024 electoral opponent, Kamala Harris, to benefit her image.
Trump’s opponents characterize the lawsuit as one element of a larger attack on press freedoms, which has included excluding the Associated Press from the Oval Office and filing legal actions against other news outlets regarding their reporting.
Despite this, Paramount engaged in mediation efforts aimed at appeasing Trump, as it works toward finalizing its $8 billion merger with entertainment firm Skydance, pending federal government clearance.
Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, "With Paramount giving in to Donald Trump right when the company requires his administration’s green light for its multi-billion dollar merger deal, what we're seeing here might very well amount to overt bribery."
Paramount has declined to respond to questions from Congress, which is why I’m urging a complete investigation to determine if any anti-bribery regulations were violated.
Warren was one of three senators who sent a letter to Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone in May, raising allegations of potential bribes related to the company’s attempts to resolve the lawsuit and urging Congress to launch an investigation.
With Republicans holding majorities in both houses of Congress, Democrats face constraints in their ability to conduct investigations or enforce witness testimony.
The senator sent their letter following announcements from CBS News president Wendy McMahon and "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens that they would be stepping down due to how Paramount managed the conflict involving Trump.
'Paramount's surrender'
The company — which did not promptly reply to AFP's inquiry for comments — originally described the lawsuit as “entirely lacking in justification” and attempted to have it thrown out of court.
Warren stated, "The extent of blatant corruption within the Trump administration is deeply troubling, and Paramount ought to feel embarrassed for prioritizing financial gain above independent reporting."
Trump claims that CBS broadcast two separate excerpts from the same response provided by Harris, who was then Vice President, regarding Israel, suggesting this editing favored her during her electoral bid.
Last October, the GOP-affiliated millionaire filed a lawsuit claiming the interview breached a state statute designed to safeguard consumers under Texan jurisdiction.
Legal analysts contended that CBS likely could have easily won the case in court, as it had released an unabridged version of the Harris interview transcript.
Media observers have noted that Trump frequently participates in interviews that undergo editing for various purposes, typically benefiting him.
A Paramount statement released Tuesday indicated that the $16 million will be directed to Trump’s future presidential library instead of going directly to him, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.
Late last year, ABC News—owned by Disney—reached its own agreement with Trump and committed to contributing an equivalent sum to the library.
Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute, referred to the agreement as "a troubling moment for media independence."
“This was an unsubstantial lawsuit, and referring to the payment as a ‘settlement’ has little connection to Paramount’s real level of liability in this matter, which was minimal,” he stated.
Paramount ought to have taken a stand against this unreasonable legal action in court, where they likely would have won. Instead, the outcome ensures that Donald Trump’s presidential library stands as an enduring symbol of Paramount’s capitulation—a lasting testament to their inability to uphold vital democratic principles.