Overview
- The Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications and Judiciary committees opened an inquiry into Paramount’s offer to pay Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign $15 million to drop a lawsuit over an edited Kamala Harris interview.
- Lawmakers are investigating whether Paramount’s board breached fiduciary duties or misused corporate funds in pursuing the settlement and if state anti-bribery or unfair competition laws were violated.
- Committee chairs Josh Becker and Thomas Umberg have invited former 60 Minutes producer Bill Owens and ex-CBS News president Wendy McMahon to testify at upcoming hearings.
- CBS staff and national Democrats condemned the settlement talks as a concession to political pressure that could undermine journalistic independence.
- The Freedom of the Press Foundation warned it will file a shareholder derivative lawsuit against Paramount if the company finalizes any deal with Trump’s campaign.