Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and eight different Democratic senators are urging the highest shareholder of CBS Information’ guardian firm to not cave to Donald Trump and settle the president’s $20 billion lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
In a letter despatched to Paramount World boss Shari Redstone on Tuesday night, first reported by The New York Times, Sanders and the opposite senators wrote that Trump’s criticism – which most authorized consultants have stated is baseless and would doubtless get tossed out of court docket – is a “blatant try and intimidate the media and people who communicate out in opposition to him.”
The letter comes as Paramount and Trump’s authorized staff are at the moment in mediation to resolve the case out of court docket, with the corporate’s govt board already laying out an appropriate financial quantity that they’re keen to pay in a settlement. Redstone, who has now recused herself from the board’s dialogue on the case, has long pushed for a settlement in hopes that it’ll persuade the Trump administration to approve Paramount’s merger with Skydance.
“This lawsuit is an assault on america Structure and the First Modification. It has completely no benefit and it can’t stand,” the letter acknowledged.
“In america of America, presidents don’t get to punish or censor the media for criticizing them. Freedom of the press is what units us other than tin-pot dictatorships and authoritarian regimes,” the senators continued.
In addition to Sanders, the letter was signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Ct.), Ed Markey (D-Ma.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.), Dick Durbin (D-Il.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Or.). The senators additionally identified that Paramount’s personal attorneys not too long ago argued in court docket that Trump’s swimsuit, which claims CBS engaged in election interference with its enhancing of the Harris interview, is “with out foundation in regulation or truth” and must be dismissed.
“Sadly, it seems that Paramount is now in search of to settle this case with Trump for as a lot as $75 million,” they famous. “In our view, that will be a grave mistake. We urge you and Paramount’s board of administrators to rethink.”
Labeling the case a “bogus lawsuit,” the senators stated that “rewarding” Trump with thousands and thousands of {dollars} “is not going to trigger him to again down on his conflict in opposition to the media” however relatively it might “solely embolden him to shakedown, extort and silence CBS” at any time when the community reported on points Trump disliked.
Quoting CBS News legend Walter Cronkite, the senators wrote that “freedom of the press isn’t just necessary to democracy, it’s democracy” earlier than making one remaining plea to Redstone and the board.
“Get up for freedom of the press and our democracy,” they concluded. “Don’t capitulate to this harmful transfer to authoritarianism.”
A Paramount spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The letter comes simply two weeks after 60 Minutes govt producer Invoice Owens abruptly resigned due to company interference, claiming he was unable “to make impartial choices” on the route of the present. Earlier this 12 months, amid the president’s continued assaults on the present, Redstone installed CBS Information veteran Susan Zirinsky because the interim govt editor overseeing requirements, which noticed Zirinsky serving as a test on Owens and serving as Redstone’s eyes and ears on the present.
In the meantime, after Trump raged last month about two 60 Minutes segments about Greenland and Ukraine and referred to as for his hand-picked FCC chairman to take motion, Redstone contacted Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks and wondered if it was possible to “delay delicate tales about Trump” till the Skydance deal was sealed.
It will seem that the reply was no. This previous Sunday, the newsmagazine ran a lengthy report on how the president is focusing on “a number of the largest regulation corporations within the nation that he accuses of ‘weaponizing’ the justice system in opposition to him,” which included an interview with Democratic legal professional Marc Elias, a hated determine in MAGA circles.
The president’s anger in the direction of 60 Minutes has solely continued to fester this week. 4 days after the program was nominated for an Emmy for its enhancing of the Harris interview, Trump took to his social media platform to gripe about the nod whereas boasting about his lawsuit.
“[I]n a complete slap within the face to anybody who believes in TRUTH and Trustworthy Journalism, this Faux Information Puff Piece has now been nominated for an award by the completely discredited Emmys,” the president blared on Reality Social. “Did 60 Minutes and its Company Dad and mom apply to get an Emmy for an illegally falsified interview, or did different Faux Shops nominate them for this doubtful ‘honor’?”
Trump added: “These antics are why the American Folks haven’t any belief within the Press, and demand that the Media, very a lot together with 60 Minutes, CBS, and its house owners, be held accountable for their corruption and lies, which is precisely what we’re doing in Courtroom!”
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