The FCC has requested that Paramount Global hand over its footage and transcripts from an October CBS News “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris as part of its review of the company’s planned merger with Skydance Media.
Trump’s lawsuit against CBS, which seeks $10 billion in damages, alleges that the network committed election interference by editing portions of an interview with Harris, favoring her campaign for president. Trump claimed CBS aired one version of the interview in a segment on its Sunday morning news magazine show “Face the Nation” that wasn’t flattering to the vice president, and then another version in the full interview on that evening’s episode of “60 Minutes.”
CBS has said it aired a more succinct version of Harris’s interview on “60 Minutes.”
The FCC has authority over the transaction because it would involve the transfer of broadcast television licenses held by CBS. The commission is currently comprised of two Republicans and two Democrats, with one open seat.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the commission’s request for the “60 Minutes” materials “a retaliatory move by the government against broadcasters whose content or coverage is perceived to be unfavorable. It is designed to instill fear in broadcast stations and influence a network’s editorial decisions.”
Trump has begun settlement talks with Paramount over his lawsuit, according to people familiar with the situation. Paramount began planning for a potential settlement before Trump took office, The Wall Street Journal first reported. The New York Times reported Thursday that settlement talks had begun.
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