Paramount CBS Settlement Regulatory Coercion

🟡 Fraud & Financial Crime · Jul 2, 2025

Summary

Trump sued CBS News and Paramount for $20 billion over a 60 Minutes interview edit, a suit legal experts widely called meritless. With Paramount simultaneously needing FCC approval (under Trump-appointee Brendan Carr) for its $8 billion Skydance merger, Paramount settled for $16 million paid to Trump’s presidential library. The FCC had held up merger approval while the suit proceeded. Sen. Warren called it ‘bribery in plain sight.’ Earlier in 2025, ABC News parent Disney had settled a similar Trump lawsuit for $15 million to his library. Legal scholars argued both deals may violate federal bribery law.