Overview

• Bob Costas condemned ABC News for paying a $15 million settlement to President Trump after George Stephanopoulos misreported a rape verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case.
• He criticized Shari Redstone’s $15 million offer to settle Trump’s CBS/60 Minutes lawsuit, noting Trump’s rejection triggered resignations by Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon.
• Costas argued that presenting “both sides” of Donald Trump’s claims amounts to false balance and urged journalists to refuse legitimizing misinformation.
• He described the president’s personal lawsuits, FCC probes and press restrictions as unprecedented threats to the free press in modern American politics.
• Costas warned that these legal concessions carry broader corporate consequences under the FCC’s looming review of the Paramount-Skydance merger.