Paramount World is dealing with contemporary warmth from Capitol Hill over its talks to settle a $20 billion defamation lawsuit introduced by President Trump in opposition to CBS Information — with three left-leaning US senators warning {that a} deal may probably violate US anti-bribery legal guidelines.
In a letter despatched Tuesday night time to Paramount Chair Shari Redstone, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) warned that Paramount “may be engaging in improper conduct involving the Trump administration in exchange for approval of its merger with Skydance Media.”
The letter and its contents have been first reported by the Wall Avenue Journal.
The lawmakers are in search of detailed details about any concessions mentioned with Trump, in addition to any inner selections to change CBS programming — particularly associated to “60 Minutes,” the community’s flagship investigative information present.
The lawsuit stems from a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claims was deceptively edited to favor her throughout the marketing campaign.
CBS has vigorously denied the accusation, calling the go well with “completely without merit.”
“The American people deserve to know whether media companies are negotiating with public officials in ways that compromise journalistic independence,” the senators wrote.
“Such actions could amount to a violation of federal law.”
The timing of the lawsuit is important.
Paramount is in search of regulatory clearance for its proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
Redstone, chair of Paramount World — CBS’s guardian firm — stands to personally achieve roughly $2 billion if the proposed merger with Skydance Media goes by means of.
The Federal Communications Fee, which should approve the deal, is at present chaired by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, elevating issues inside the firm that the lawsuit may jeopardize the merger until resolved.
Paramount has denied any hyperlink between the litigation and the merger’s approval course of.
When reached by The Publish, a Paramount spokesperson beforehand acknowledged that the corporate would “abide by the legal process to defend our case,” and declined additional touch upon the senators’ letter.
The Publish has sought remark from Skydance, the FCC and Trump.
CBS Information’ president and CEO, Wendy McMahon, resigned on Monday following what insiders describe as weeks of inner stress over deal with the Trump lawsuit and its fallout.
As reported by The Publish, McMahon had opposed settling the case and was alarmed by what she noticed as rising stress from Paramount to melt CBS’s protection of Trump.
Sources instructed The Publish that McMahon was requested to resign over the weekend by CBS CEO George Cheeks, after months of strained relations.
In a memo to employees, she wrote: “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.”
McMahon’s departure follows that of longtime “60 Minutes” govt producer Invoice Owens, who additionally resigned amid issues about editorial independence.
One CBS insider instructed The Publish: “Wendy’s exit means the Trump lawsuit mediation must be moving quickly and a deal will be done.”
McMahon’s tenure at CBS had already been rocky. She oversaw a controversial overhaul of the night information lineup, eradicating anchor Norah O’Donnell in favor of lesser-known journalists John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois — selections that coincided with a rankings droop.
The nightly newscast reportedly now averages fewer than 4 million viewers.
As of 2025, about 20 to 22 million individuals watch the night information throughout the three main broadcast networks, with ABC’s “World News Tonight” main at round 9 million viewers, adopted by NBC’s “Nightly News” with 6 to 7 million and CBS’s “Evening News” trailing with about 4 million.
McMahon additionally confronted backlash after reprimanding anchor Tony Dokoupil for a pointed interview with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates concerning the Israel-Hamas battle — an incident that reportedly drew disapproval from Redstone.
Adrienne Roark, a prime editorial govt and shut McMahon ally, additionally resigned shortly earlier than McMahon’s exit and is predicted to take a task at TEGNA.
CBS CEO George Cheeks introduced that McMahon’s duties can be break up between CBS Information president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell.
In her farewell memo, McMahon described her time at CBS as “one of the most meaningful chapters in my career,” and praised her colleagues’ “commitment to truth, fairness and the highest standards.”
