Californian senators ask about the job interviews of the Paramount Trump
Two senators in California have called for a hearing about the settlement interviews between Paramount Global and President Trump, claiming that such a deal would be a bribes to obtain the approval of the regulatory authorities for the merger of the studio with Skydance Media.
In one letter sent FridaySens. Tom Umberg and Josh Becker suggest that a regulation can violate the state and federal law, as well as a “horrifying effect” on research and political journalism. The senators invited Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens, Top CBS News managers who have taken in recent weeks to testify.
The senators said that at the start of a study they were aimed at “ensuring that the public competing for media companies on the basis of content and quality, no influence, capitulation or political reconciliation.”
The letter was first reported by Semafor.
Trump sued CBS for $ 10 billion last October, claiming that the network had had consumer fraud by editing part of a “60 minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Although CBS has argued in court that the lawsuit is without merit, Paramount reportedly insisted on a settlement, in the hope that this will help to accelerate the $ 8 billion in awaiting skydance. Trump later changed the suit to request $ 20 billion compensation.
The Wall Street Journal reported This week that Paramount is willing to pay up to $ 15 million, although Trump has sustained for a higher amount.
Three Democratic US Senators – Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders – raised alarms about the discussions earlier this month, which suggests that a corrupt Quid Pro quo can violate the federal bribery statute.
Umberg is a former federal public prosecutor. In their letter, he and Becker, both Democrats, suggest that a settlement would also violate the unfair competition legislation of California and expose board members to lawsuits.
“The capitulation of Paramount would also undermine two essential pillars of a liberal democracy: a free press and an impartial regulation system of the rule,” the senators wrote.
Owens, the executive producer of ’60 minutes ‘, resigned in April and quoted interference with CBS’ business trainers at Paramount. McMahon, the president of CBS News who also supervised local stations, resigned on May 19, and also quoted conflicts with Paramount Honchos.
The letter invites both to testify as ‘friendly witnesses’, which suggests that they may give insight into the conversations and pushback of the news division. The Paramount Board was copied on the letter.
Some ethical experts have indicated that it would be difficult to prove a bribery in court, given the challenge to demonstrate an explicit Quid Pro quo.
