Trump and Paramount Seek Mediator in CBS News Lawsuit
The decision to bring in a mediator is another indication that both sides are trying to settle the case out of court, over the editing a “60 Minutes’ interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. A mediator could help them reach a settlement, but whether they will do so remains far from certain.
Paramount declined to comment. Ed Paltzik, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, said in a statement: “President Trump will pursue this vital matter to its just and rightful conclusion.”
Mr. Trump sued CBS a few days before the election of 2024, accusing it of editing his Democratic opponent’s interview in a deceptive manner. He later amended the suit to include Paramount as a separate defendant.
Paramount, CBS’s parent company, began settlement talks with Mr. Trump this year. The talks between CBS News and Paramount have caused discord, as CBS News employees are opposed to any settlement. Bill Owens, executive producer of “60 Minutes,” said to the staff of the show this month that, after The New York Times reported the settlement talks, he would refuse to apologize. The lawsuit has complicated Paramount’s merger deal with Skydance. The deal would combine a young media start-up, backed by Larry Ellison, with the gilded Hollywood Studio behind “The Godfather” & “Rosemary’s Baby”. Forgoing an opportunity to settle could also lead to shareholder lawsuits, especially if Mr. Trump prevails in court and wins a big judgment.
Still, executives at Paramount are concerned that a settlement with Mr. Trump could lead to legal liabilities that are not covered by conventional corporate insurance policies, according to a person familiar with their concerns.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on the potential legal liabilities.
A filing last week in federal court in Texas laid out a road map for the legal battle between Paramount and Mr. Trump. According to the filing both parties must try mediation before December 20. The Federal Communications Commission released the transcript of the Harris interview after CBS provided it to them. In a statement on the CBS News website, the company said the transcript showed that the “60 Minutes” broadcast “was not doctored or deceitful.”
David Enrich contributed reporting.
