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House Democrats Escalate Probe, Accuse Paramount of Stonewalling in Skydance–Paramount Inquiry

Lawmakers gave CEO David Ellison until Nov. 26 to deliver records after rejecting the company’s earlier response as inadequate.

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel (not pictured), on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
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Overview

  • Reps. Jamie Raskin and Frank Pallone Jr. said Paramount’s cooperation was inadequate as they investigate CBS’ $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump and the FCC-approved $8 billion merger with Skydance.
  • Their Aug. 20 request sought the settlement agreement, any commitments for advertising or public service programming, communications with the Trump administration, and FCC-related records referencing the news-distortion probe.
  • Paramount’s Aug. 29 reply described its contacts with officials as “routine and customary,” a characterization the lawmakers called “profoundly troubling” in light of Trump’s public endorsement of the merger days after a UFC event appearance with Skydance’s CEO.
  • The lawmakers highlighted that Skydance asserted full compliance with anti-bribery laws while Paramount referenced compliance policies without stating it followed them.
  • The latest letter sets a Nov. 26 deadline for documents and answers; a Paramount spokesperson declined to comment, and the lawmakers said the only response received so far described limited communications on select dates.