Senators Urge Paramount Not to Settle Trump’s $20 Billion Lawsuit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of nine Democratic senators, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, are urging Paramount Global‘s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, not to settle a $20 billion lawsuit from former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit stems from an interview conducted by CBS‘s 60 Minutes with Vice President Kamala Harris last October.

In a letter sent to Redstone on Tuesday evening, the senators described Trump’s complaint as a “blatant attempt to intimidate the media and those who speak out against him.” Legal experts have largely deemed the lawsuit baseless, suggesting it will likely be dismissed in court.

The letter comes as Paramount’s executive board is reportedly considering an acceptable monetary amount for a settlement during ongoing mediation with Trump’s legal team. Redstone has recused herself from discussions about the case, as settling could potentially influence the Trump administration’s approval of Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.

Sanders and his colleagues emphasized the significance of press freedom in the United States. “This lawsuit is an attack on the United States Constitution and the First Amendment. It has absolutely no merit and it cannot stand,” they stated, adding that rewarding Trump could encourage him to silence CBS and other media outlets.

Among the senators who co-signed the letter are Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

The senators referenced prior arguments from Paramount’s own attorneys, who declared in court that Trump’s claims about CBS engaging in election interference are “without basis in law or fact.”nThey warned that settling for as much as $75 million would signify a grave mistake, stating, “In our view, that would embolden him to shakedown, extort and silence CBS increasingly whenever the network reported on issues Trump disliked.

The senators concluded their letter urging Redstone to resist what they call a dangerous move towards authoritarianism. “Stand up for freedom of the press and our democracy. Do not capitulate to this pressure,” they wrote.

Paramount officials did not respond immediately for comment.

This letter arrives shortly after Bill Owens, 60 Minutes’ executive producer, was reported to have resigned due to corporate interference stemming from conflicts related to the show’s editorial decisions against Trump.

As tensions rise, Trump continues to vocalize his discontent with the media, specifically targeting 60 Minutes and accusing the outlet of bias through social media platforms. His ongoing litigation against CBS is only one part of an escalating war against multiple media outlets.