Key facts
- Rep. Jamie Raskin asked Paramount CEO David Ellison if the company is pressuring CBS News to air content sought by President Donald Trump.
- Raskin cited concerns about CBS's editorial independence and alleged requests to make protesters appear more violent.
- Previous inquiries involved potential changes to CNN coverage in exchange for acquisition approval.
- Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million over CBS's editing of a '60 Minutes' interview.
- California and 11 states are suing to block Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.
Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has formally questioned Paramount CEO David Ellison regarding alleged pressure on CBS News to air content favorable to President Donald Trump. In a letter, Raskin expressed concerns that Paramount might be colluding with the Trump administration to undermine media independence and stifle dissent.
Raskin's inquiry follows previous questions posed to Ellison in May, alongside Representative Frank Pallone, about whether Paramount offered to alter CNN's coverage of Trump in exchange for approval of a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. The current concerns are amplified by allegations from former '60 Minutes' journalist Scott Pelley, who claims CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss asked him to portray anti-ICE protesters as more violent.
Paramount has declined to comment on the matter, and CBS has not yet responded. Raskin stated that it is evident Ellison has been delivering for President Trump at CBS and that Weiss is positioned to do the same at CNN if the acquisition proceeds. This development occurs as California and 11 other states have filed a lawsuit to block Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Previously, Raskin and Pallone accused Paramount of obstructing congressional oversight related to the Federal Communications Commission's approval of Skydance's merger with CBS News's parent company. President Trump has a history of pressuring the FCC to take action against media companies he perceives as unfair. Last year, Paramount paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump concerning CBS's editing of a '60 Minutes' interview with his political opponent, Kamala Harris.