A federal judge has rejected CBS and Paramount Global's attempt to dismiss a $20 billion lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump. Trump alleges that a "60 Minutes" interview was misleadingly edited to favor former Vice President Kamala Harris during the election campaign.
Following the release of the full transcript and unedited footage by the Federal Communications Commission the week of February 2, Trump's lawyers expanded their original $10 billion claim to $20 billion. They also included Paramount Global in the lawsuit due to the interview being available on Paramount+.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ruled that the motion to dismiss filed by CBS and Paramount was "moot" since the lawsuit had been amended. This decision allows the case to move forward, although Judge Kacsmaryk emphasized that this ruling pertains to procedural aspects and not the substance of the claims. The defendants now have 21 days to submit a new motion to dismiss based on the updated complaint.
Editing Controversy and Settlement Talks
The controversy centers on CBS's editing of the interview, with critics claiming it was done to protect Harris from public criticism. CBS maintains that editing for clarity is a standard procedure for "60 Minutes."
In response to the lawsuit, there are indications that Paramount Global might be open to settling the case to avoid a lengthy legal dispute, especially amidst their negotiations for a merger with Skydance Media. This potential settlement is reportedly favored by Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, as the merger could attract scrutiny from the Republican-majority FCC, which could impact the deal's approval.
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