Lawyers representing Paramount and Donald Trump have agreed to bring in a mediator to facilitate discussions about a possible settlement in the president’s ongoing $20 billion lawsuit against subsidiary CBS, according to a report.
The decision to bring in a third party signals a potential effort by both sides to resolve the dispute outside of court, according to the New York Times.
The lawsuit filed by Trump accuses the CBS show “60 Minutes” of deceptively editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, whose long-winded answer to a question about the Israel-Hamas conflict was condensed.
CBS has denied that there was anything nefarious in its editing process. The Post has sought comment from Paramount and the White House.
Ed Paltzik, an attorney for Trump, told the Times: “President Trump will pursue this vital matter to its just and rightful conclusion.”
The lawsuit was initially filed in the days leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump later amended the lawsuit to include Paramount as a defendant, expanding the scope of the legal battle.
Settlement discussions between Paramount, the parent company of CBS, and Trump began earlier this year.
However, reports of these negotiations have caused internal friction within Paramount, particularly among CBS News employees who have voiced strong opposition to any form of settlement.
Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” told staffers that he had no intention of apologizing as part of any potential agreement.
In December, ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos reached a settlement with Trump, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s future presidential library and an additional $1 million to cover his legal fees.
The settlement also included a public apology from ABC News and Stephanopoulos for inaccurate statements made during a broadcast.
Sources told The Post that Stephanopoulos was livid over being forced by parent company Disney to attach his name to the apology.
The Trump lawsuit against Paramount has also cast uncertainty over the company’s pending merger with Skydance Media, a deal that, if finalized, would combine the historic Hollywood studio with the media startup backed by billionaire Larry Ellison.
The deal, which would shift control away from the Redstone family to Ellison and his son, David, has faced regulatory scrutiny and legal hurdles. The lawsuit’s resolution — or lack thereof — could impact the merger’s progress.
Paramount executives reportedly believe that reaching a resolution with Trump could reduce the risk of regulatory interference with the Skydance merger.
Others worry that failing to settle could lead to shareholder lawsuits, particularly if Trump secures a major financial victory in court.
Some within Paramount remain concerned about the broader implications of a settlement. According to the Times, Paramount executives fear that a deal with Trump could result in legal liabilities beyond the scope of standard corporate insurance coverage.
A recent federal court filing in Texas outlined the next steps in the case, requiring both parties to engage in mediation by Dec. 20. If they fail to mutually select a mediator, the court will appoint one at least 14 days before the deadline.
CBS, for its part, has maintained that the “60 Minutes” interview was not manipulated.
The company provided the full transcript of the Harris interview to the Federal Communications Commission, which later made it publicly available.
In a statement posted on its website, CBS News asserted that the released transcript confirmed that the broadcast “was not doctored or deceitful.”
