New York: Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview aired before the 2024 election—despite the company not apologizing or admitting fault. Trump, seizing the opportunity, claimed the outcome was a win against the “Fake News media,” though the facts tell a different story. His civil suit, seeking an implausible $20 billion in damages, was based on thoroughly debunked claims that the segment was deceptively edited. Trump escalated his accusations, even urging the FCC to revoke CBS’s broadcast license and impose harsh penalties.

The settlement sparked immediate scrutiny, particularly given Paramount’s concurrent need for federal approval of a major merger with Skydance. Though the company insists the lawsuit and the merger are unrelated, skeptics—including several Democratic senators—have raised red flags. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden warned in a letter that if Paramount’s payment was part of a quid pro quo to influence Trump administration decisions, it could violate federal bribery laws. Wyden openly called the payment a “bribe for merger approval,” and Warren demanded an investigation, labeling the deal “bribery in plain sight.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Paramount executives have been internally debating how to settle the case without exposing themselves to legal risk, either from shareholders or prosecutors. Political fallout has already begun: both the head of CBS News and the executive producer of “60 Minutes” have resigned in recent months.

Now that the settlement is final, concerns about improper influence and corporate appeasement are expected to intensify. Notably, the $16 million payout matches what ABC News paid in a separate Trump defamation settlement, reinforcing fears that powerful media companies may be incentivized to placate Trump in exchange for favorable regulatory treatment.

(With the input of media coverage)