Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. , CBS News on Not “Cave” for the President Donald Trump As the network is considering a settlement to end its legal fight with the 44th Commander.
In October, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News alleging election interference in its handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing the network of helping his Democratic rival through deceptive editing. Wall Street Journal I mentioned last week CBS Parent Paramount Global is considering settling the lawsuit ahead of the planned merger that must eventually go through with the new Trump administration.
Sanders took to the X on Friday to sound the alarm on settlement prospects.
“CBS may reach a legal settlement with Trump because he didn't like how a campaign interview with Kamala was edited. Really?” Sanders reacted. “If CBS Caves, the belief that we have independent media protected by the First Amendment is undermined.”
“CBS: Stand tall. Support the Constitution,” the progressive lawmaker added.
Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion, claims 'deceptive doctorate' in Harris' 60 Minutes interview
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., urges CBS News not to 'cave' on President Trump, as its Paramount Global company reportedly settles with 47th Commander. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
CBS News did not immediately respond Fox News DigitalRequest for comment.
Trump's lawsuit against CBS News stems from Harris' exchange with “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker. In a preview clip that aired on “Face the Nation,” Harris was asked why it seemed like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't listening to the U.S.
“Well, Bill, the work we've done has led to a number of movements in that region by Israel that were largely prompted by Israel or as a result of many things, including our advocacy for what should happen in the region,” Harris responded in a statement. “Face the Nation” clip.
Conservatives mocked Harris for offering a lengthy “word salad” to Whitaker. But when the same question was broadcast the next night in a special time slot election, A shorter, more focused answer Of cum follows.
“We will not stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris said on the Primetime special.
Bill Whitaker's “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris is at the center of a high-stakes lawsuit launched by President Trump. (Screenshots/CBS News)
Critics accused CBS News of editing Harris' answer “Word salad” To protect the vice president from further backlash, there were calls for the network to release the full transcript after sharing only transcripts of what was broadcast.
“To paper on Kamala's weak 'word authority', CBS used its national platform on 60 Minutes to cross the line from exercising judgment in reporting to deceptive and news manipulation.”
Trump's lawyers argued that the amendments were made in an effort “to attempt to tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party as the heated 2024 presidential election — led by President Trump — comes to a conclusion.”
“CBS' partisan and unlawful acts in elections and voter interference through malicious, deceptive and gross news distortions calculated to confuse, deceive and mislead the public.”
The WSJ reported that Paramount is considering a deal with the president as he pursues a merger with Skydance Media in hopes of preventing potential retaliation by the FCC against Trump, who has the power to halt the multibillion-dollar transaction.
President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News during the election, but the network's now-parent company Paramount Global is reporting that it lists a settlement now that he's back in the Oval Office. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Rumors of the settlement come just weeks after ABC News settled Trump's defamation lawsuit, which resulted in him being awarded $15 million and a written apology.
Trump sued the Disney-owned network last year after he swapped anchor George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Masse, R-S.C., on the Sunday Morning News' “This Week.”
During the interview, Stephanopoulos claimed ten separate times Trump was found “liable for rape,” when the jury in the E. Jean Carroll civil case effectively decided he should be liable for “sexual assault,” which has a distinct definition under New York law.
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Although Challenge Stephanopoulos took the position early, and his bosses at the House of Mouse felt differently. According to the settlement, ABC News paid $15 million in charitable contributions to “a Presidential Foundation and Museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as a past President of the United States of America.” In addition, the network will pay $1 million in fees for Trump's lawyers. Stephanopoulos and ABC News had to issue statements of “regret” as an editor's note at the bottom of an article on the ABC News website.
Liberal critics have accused ABC News of “bending the knee” to Trump and setting a bad precedent, which Sanders argues will happen with CBS News settling with the president.
Fox News's Brooke Sindman and Brian Fuel contributed to this report.
