Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren Criticizes Paramount Global for $16 Million Payment to Trump
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren has strongly criticized Paramount Global for its decision to make a $16 million payment to President Trump in order to settle a lawsuit that she deems as “meritless.” Warren, who represents Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, has accused the parent company of CBS of prioritizing profits over independent journalism.
Warren has raised concerns about the legality of Paramount’s payment to Trump, suggesting that it could potentially be viewed as an illegal bribe. She has called for an investigation into whether any anti-bribery laws were violated in the process.
“With Paramount capitulating to Donald Trump while seeking approval for its billion-dollar merger from his administration, this could be seen as bribery happening right in front of our eyes,” Warren stated. “Paramount’s lack of transparency in response to congressional inquiries warrants a thorough investigation into potential violations of anti-bribery laws.”
In October 2024, Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS and Paramount, alleging that an interview with Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes” had been edited in a way that violated a Texas consumer protection law. Legal experts have dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless and have defended CBS’s actions under the First Amendment. The settlement reached between Paramount, CBS, and Trump does not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing.
Warren, along with fellow senators Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden, previously raised concerns about Paramount’s conduct in relation to the Trump Administration, suggesting that it could be tied to approval for a merger with Skydance Media.
Wyden has echoed Warren’s sentiments, accusing Paramount of paying a bribe to Trump in exchange for merger approval. He has called for potential federal charges against the company’s executives once Democrats regain power.
Paramount Global has maintained that Trump’s lawsuit is separate from its merger plans and FCC approval process. The company has pledged to defend its case through the legal process. FCC chair Brendan Carr has also stated that Trump’s lawsuit is not directly linked to the agency’s review of the Skydance-Paramount deal.
As part of the settlement with Trump, the $16 million payment will not be made directly to the former president but will instead be allocated to his presidential library. Warren has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at regulating donations to sitting presidents’ libraries in order to curb potential corruption.
In response to criticism from Warren and other lawmakers, a White House spokesman dismissed the allegations of bribery, labeling them as “faux outrage” driven by desperation. The spokesman asserted that the President could not be swayed by bribes, especially from entities like Paramount.
