Paramount’s hesitation in agreeing to a deal with President Donald Trump in his $20 billion lawsuit against the company over CBS News’ editing of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris has delayed a potential $35 million settlement.
The company, reportedly fearing a bribery investigation if a deal is reached while it has a $8 billion merger in limbo with the Federal Communications Commission, remains in active settlement negotiations with Trump’s legal team, reports The New York Post’s Charles Gasparino Thursday.
The delay has prompted Trump’s side to demand even more money to end the dispute, according to sources.
Both sides had considered the $35 million settlement, according to two sources close to the situation.
Trump sued Paramount on allegations that CBS’ “60 Minutes” edited its interview with Harris ahead of the 2024 election to make her sound more presidential.
Meanwhile, the standoff over a deal on the lawsuit is threatening plans backed by Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, to sell off Paramount to Skydance Media, in an $8 billion merger that Trump said Wednesday he endorses.
