Three U.S. senators, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden, have issued a warning to Paramount Global and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, regarding a potential violation of federal anti-bribery laws. The warning comes in response to reports that Paramount has been in settlement talks with President Trump’s lawyers in a lawsuit against CBS over a segment aired on “60 Minutes.”
The lawsuit, filed by Trump, alleges that CBS deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris, violating a Texas consumer protection law. Paramount and CBS have denied any wrongdoing, with Paramount calling the legal action an affront to the First Amendment. However, the senators have raised concerns that Paramount may be compromising CBS’s First Amendment rights by considering a settlement in the case.
In their letter to Redstone, the senators expressed serious concerns about the possibility of Paramount engaging in improper conduct with the Trump Administration in exchange for approval of its merger with Skydance Media. They warned that any monetary settlement in the case could potentially be illegal under federal bribery statutes, which prohibit giving anything of value to public officials to influence an official act.
The senators previously urged Redstone not to settle the lawsuit, calling it an attack on the Constitution and the First Amendment. Paramount declined to comment on the matter, reiterating their commitment to defending the case through legal means. Redstone’s spokesperson also declined to comment, and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
The $8 billion Paramount-Skydance deal is currently pending FCC approval, with FCC chairman Brendan Carr stating that the approval is not connected to the “60 Minutes” lawsuit. However, the senators noted that the exits of CBS News president Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens could be linked to Paramount’s alleged efforts to curry favor with the Trump Administration.
In their letter, the senators requested specific answers from Paramount by June 2, including questions about the merit of Trump’s lawsuit, the risk of shareholder derivative litigation from settling the case, and any changes made to “60 Minutes” content to facilitate the merger approval. They also inquired about Paramount’s policies related to compliance with anti-corruption laws.
The senators’ letter to Redstone was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding the potential settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against CBS. It remains to be seen how Paramount will address the senators’ questions and navigate the legal and ethical implications of the case.
