BURLINGTON, Vt. — Opposition is intensifying against Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, as discussions about potentially settling a $20 billion lawsuit from former President Donald Trump gain traction. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has raised concerns that a settlement could undermine press freedoms and encourage further governmental attacks on media outlets.
In a letter addressed to Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount, Sanders referenced speculation that the network might consider an agreement to resolve the case for as much as $75 million. He cautioned that rewarding Trump could embolden him rather than deter further legal actions against the press.
“Rewarding Trump with tens of millions of dollars for filing this disingenuous lawsuit will not cause him to back down on his war against the media,” Sanders wrote. “It will only embolden him to intimidate and silence CBS and other media outlets daring enough to report on matters upsetting to him.”
Last week, legal representatives for both sides convened to discuss a possible resolution. For Paramount, settling the case may pave the way for approval of its pending merger with Skydance. Industry insiders suggest that Redstone is in favor of this option.
Most legal analysts believe that the lawsuit is likely to be dismissed, given the established principles of editorial judgment in the media sector. Trump’s legal argument hinges on a novel claim that CBS News violated Texas consumer protection laws related to deceptive advertising through the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.
In March, Paramount filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that its editorial decisions are protected as free speech under the U.S. Constitution. The company further contested Trump’s choice to file the lawsuit in a Texas federal court, often viewed as favorable to conservative legal causes, despite CBS being incorporated in New York.
“This lawsuit is an affront to the First Amendment and lacks any legal or factual basis,” stated Thomas Riney, an attorney for CBS, in the motion to dismiss. Riney added that Trump seeks to penalize a news organization for exercising their constitutionally protected editorial rights.
Sanders, accompanied by eight fellow senators, echoed this sentiment in his letter. “This lawsuit is an attack on the United States Constitution and the First Amendment. It has absolutely no merit and should not stand,” he stated.
The letter expressed alarm over the potential impact of a settlement on free speech, highlighting ongoing intimidation efforts against the media under Trump’s administration. “Stand up for freedom of the press and our democracy,” Sanders urged. “Do not give in to this dangerous trend toward authoritarianism.”
CBS is not the only media outlet under scrutiny. Last month, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, encouraged the agency to investigate Disney and ABC for allegedly implementing discriminatory policies.
As the settlement discussions continue, Trump has not shied away from criticizing CBS. Last week, he asserted on Truth Social that the case against the network is strong, claiming they “cheated and defrauded the American People at levels never seen before in the Political Arena.”
Sanders was joined by Senators Chris Murphy, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, and Peter Welch in signing the letter.
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