A controversial October 2024 decision to edit two sentences from a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris has escalated into a major crisis for Paramount Global and its controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone. President Trump’s $20-billion lawsuit, alleging deceptive editing to make Harris appear more competent, has Created turmoil, threatening Paramount’s $8-billion proposed sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media.
The editing dispute has fueled internal unrest at Paramount, led to high-level resignations, and prompted a FCC probe into alleged news distortion. The FCC, led by a Trump appointee, is reviewing the transfer of CBS television station licenses to the Ellison family, a critical step for the deal’s progress, but sources say the process is stalled.
Last week, three U-S Senators—Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)—intensified the situation, warning Redstone in a letter that settling with Trump could be seen as an illegal payoff to influence FCC decisions, potentially violating federal anti-bribery laws.
The senators stated, “Paramount’s dealings with Trump raise serious concerns of corruption and improper conduct.”
Redstone is eager for the Skydance deal to succeed, as her family’s holding company faces crippling debt. The sale would provide $2.4 billion for their preferred shares, enabling the Redstones to clear nearly $600 million in debt while maintaining their billionaire status.
Paramount, Skydance, and Redstone’s spokesperson declined to comment to The Los Angeles Times.
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