Paramount Global and former President Donald Trump are seemingly in the midst of “good faith, advanced, settlement negotiations” to settle a lawsuit brought forth by Trump against CBS in October. The suit alleges that CBS misleadingly edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes”.
On Monday, attorneys submitted a court filing requesting a Texas judge to postpone all proceedings until Thursday. Trump initially sought $20 billion in damages, but reports indicate that a mediator suggested a $20 million settlement, as stated in the Wall Street Journal last week. The Paramount-owned network has previously dismissed the lawsuit as entirely baseless and called for the case to be dismissed.
Edward Paltzik, a lawyer representing Trump, and representatives from Paramount Global, including a spokesman, a lawyer, and a spokesperson for Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, have not yet provided comments on the matter. This development follows earlier reports that CBS-parent company Paramount Global is seeking the Federal Communications Commission’s approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who was appointed by Trump on January 20, stated last week that the commission is continuing its review of the transaction. No decision was made by the commission’s informal 180-day deadline in mid-May. Trump’s allegations against CBS are based on his belief that CBS attempted to influence the election in favor of the Democratic Party and the then-Vice President by broadcasting two different versions of Harris’s responses to a question. CBS has denied any wrongdoing.
In January, Carr revived a complaint about the “60 Minutes” Harris interview. CBS has urged Carr to dismiss the complaint, arguing that it did nothing wrong and suggesting that the complaint seeks to transform “the FCC into a full-time censor of content.” The significance of this should not be overlooked, as it raises important questions about the role and responsibilities of our nation’s media outlets and regulatory bodies.
In conclusion, unanswered questions remain, but our commitment to keeping you informed remains steadfast. The importance of accuracy and truth in our democratic institutions and processes cannot be overstated.
