Senators Warn Paramount of Legal Implications in Trump Lawsuit Settlement

Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont issued a cautionary letter this week to Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global. They expressed serious concerns that settling President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News might violate federal bribery laws.

Trump is demanding $20 billion from CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, alleging that the network interfered in the election process by editing their interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The two parties have entered mediation, hoping to finalize a settlement. Redstone is perceived as open to negotiation, particularly as a planned multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media could be threatened by Trump’s ongoing Federal Communications Commission investigation.

Senators Address Potential Legal Violations

In their letter, which was delivered on Monday, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon, warned Redstone against the potential for a quid pro quo arrangement that could violate the law.

“We write to express serious concern regarding the possibility that media company Paramount Global may be engaging in improper conduct involving the Trump Administration in exchange for approval of its megamerger with Skydance Media,” their letter began. They noted that Paramount seems to be pursuing a settlement for a lawsuit they have deemed ‘completely without merit,’ while also altering their program content to facilitate merger approval.

Implications of the Federal Bribery Statute

The senators cited the federal bribery statute, emphasizing that it is illegal to corruptly offer anything of value to public officials to influence an official act. They cautioned that if Paramount executives make concessions in order to sway President Trump or other members of the Administration, it would be a violation of the law.

They requested information concerning whether Paramount is making any concessions to President Trump in anticipation of favor from his Administration. The letter indicated that this could undermine journalistic integrity.

Previous Legal Stance on Trump’s Lawsuit

Warren, Sanders, and Wyden also pointed out that CBS News previously filed a motion to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit, labeling it as an “affront to the First Amendment” and devoid of any legal or factual basis.

Moreover, they claimed Paramount appears to be seeking to “appease” the Trump administration to ensure the merger goes through smoothly.

Citing Concerns Raised by FCC Chair

The lawmakers referenced statements made by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who indicated that Trump’s CBS lawsuit is “likely to arise in the context of the FCC review” regarding the Paramount-Skydance transaction. It was noted that Paramount is reportedly in negotiations to settle the lawsuit, further highlighting the urgency of their concerns.

Expert Opinions on Corporate Influence

Veteran CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley addressed viewers recently, stating that “Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways” during the merger discussions. The letter mentioned the resignations of CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, both of whom voiced criticism about corporate influence before departing.

The senators asserted that Paramount’s efforts to cultivate favorable relations with the Trump administration have compromised journalistic independence. They emphasized serious concerns over corruption and unethical behavior.

Deadline for Clarification on Paramount’s Actions

They provided Redstone with a deadline of June 2 to respond to a series of nine specific questions. These inquiries included whether Paramount believes that the lawsuit brought by Trump holds any merit.

Additional Inquiries for Transparency

Other questions posed to Redstone sought clarity about discussions involving a settlement, any correlation between the merger and these discussions, and whether “60 Minutes” has been requested by Paramount officials to modify its content to facilitate merger approval.

As of now, Paramount has not responded to requests for comment from various media sources regarding these issues. Likewise, FCC Chair Carr has not provided any commentary on the matter.