Two prominent Democrats in the House are starting to look into the circumstances surrounding Paramount’s $7 billion merger with Skydance, as well as the Trump administration’s approval of the deal.
Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD.), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Paramount’s leadership on Wednesday expressing their concerns.
In the letter, which was reviewed, the lawmakers highlighted a “troubling” statement from President Trump, mentioning expectations of receiving over $20 million from the new owners through advertising or similar programming, amounting to over $36 million in total.
Paramount responded by denying any such agreement with Trump, asserting that their settlement merely involved $16 million allocated to his foundation.
To secure approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Paramount altered its editorial practices, which Pallone and Raskin noted seemed aligned with the Trump administration’s political agenda while also withdrawing its corporate diversity policy.
They remarked, “The offer is likely dependent on FCC approval and doesn’t seem to provide real value to President Trump alone,” suggesting it appeared to be a government payment to public officials designed to achieve specific outcomes, which they labeled as potential bribes.
Recently, Paramount settled with Trump to avoid a high-profile lawsuit he filed against CBS News following a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Shortly after, CBS canceled “The Late Show” with Trump critic Stephen Colbert, though Paramount’s new CEO, David Ellison, indicated a focus on steering the network towards more “diverse” viewpoints.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticized CBS News for their coverage of the Trump administration prior to the merger approval, implying that the “60 Minutes” interview could lead to a news distortion complaint, potentially complicating the contract’s approval process.
Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, a tech billionaire and Trump ally.
Several Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), suggest this situation represents a major capitulation to Trump’s authority and possible breaches of federal bribery laws.
They mentioned that if Skydance provided Trump up to $20 million in advertising or programming to secure regulatory approval for the merger, it would violate anti-bribery laws.
They also pointed out that if Paramount removes longtime CBS leaders, agrees to the $16 million settlement with Trump, or if Trump exerts influence to cancel a popular comedy show he dislikes in exchange for regulatory approval, these actions could further validate the accusations surrounding the lawsuits they promote.
Paramount has not yet replied to requests for comments regarding the letter.
