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In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump in October for compiling a CBS “60 Minutes” interview with then-President Kamala Harris.
Paramount told the media that the money would go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself. He said the settlement would not involve an apology.
Trump’s lawyers said the president suffered “mental distress” over compiling the interview with CBS News.
Paramount and CBS rejected Trump’s claim that interviews were compiled to reinforce how Harris sounded, and that he attempted to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit.
There were no immediate words from the White House about reconciliation.
Under the settlement, which arrived with the help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that “60 Minutes” would release a transcript of future interviews with the presidential candidate. “It is subject to compilation necessary for legal and national security concerns,” CBS News said in a statement.
Trump, who disagreed to be interviewed “60 Minutes” during the campaign, protested the editor who saw the show Bill Whitaker give two different answers to the question in another clip that aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.” CBS said each replies came in Harris’ long-standing answers to Whitaker, but were compiled more concisely.
Edward Andrew Palzik, the president’s lawyer, said it caused confusion and “mental distress,” misleading voters and preventing them from paying too much attention to Trump and his true social platform.
Paramount and control shareholder Shari Redstone had been seeking a settlement with Trump. CBS News president and CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens both opposed the settlement but have resigned in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the press foundation’s freedom, a media advocacy group that it is its most important shareholder, said it would protest and file a lawsuit if a settlement is reached.
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