House Dems ramp up scrutiny of Paramount-Skydance merger
House Democrats are intensifying their scrutiny of the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance following what they describe as an “inadequate and incomplete” response from the newly merged company regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s approval. The merger gained attention after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump related to a controversial and misleadingly edited “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Frank Pallone question whether the timing of the FCC approval was influenced by agreements for payments and other benefits to Trump, including support for his future presidential library. They also express concern about recent changes at Paramount Skydance, such as the appointment of right-leaning editorial figures like Bari Weiss at CBS News, suggesting a shift toward a more conservative editorial approach.
The lawmakers criticized Paramount Skydance’s CEO David Ellison for vague responses and insufficient cooperation in their inquiries. They highlight a troubling connection between the CEO’s personal interactions with Trump and the swift merger approval. This ongoing investigation reflects wider Democratic concerns, with senators like Elizabeth warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden launching similar probes into potential secret payoffs linked to the deal. simultaneously occurring, Ellison continues to reshape the company, including meaningful layoffs and editorial shifts at CBS.
House Democrats ramp up scrutiny of Paramount-Skydance merger over ‘inadequate’ response
Two House Democrats followed up with the newly merged entertainment company Paramount Skydance on Wednesday after receiving an “inadequate and incomplete” response to their initial inquiry about the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of the $8 billion merger.
Over the summer, Skydance joined Paramount after the latter settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump for $16 million over last fall’s 60 Minutes controversy involving deceptive editing of then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s pre-election interview.
Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), both ranking members on separate committees, question whether the merger and settlement are related.
“The timing of this approval from the Trump Administration was deeply suspicious,” their three-page letter states. “It came only after Skydance and Paramount agreed to make millions of dollars in payments and to provide free services directly to Donald Trump and to support his future presidential library.”
The lawmakers raise concerns over several changes that Paramount Skydance has made since the merger, including the appointments of independent ombudsman Kenneth Weinstein and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss at CBS News. They allege that Weiss’s appointment and CBS’s acquisition of the Free Press “suggest a new and concertedly right-wing approach to your news operation.”
Raskin and Pallone sent the first letter in August, asking Paramount Skydance to provide answers and documents regarding the settlement between Paramount and Trump. The two Democrats were left unsatisfied with their responses.
“We write today because your response does not appear to reflect a good-faith effort to cooperate with our committees’ investigation,” they wrote.
The corporation provided no responses to most of the requests in the initial inquiry, only partially addressing one item. When asked for a description of the company’s communications with the president or his administration officials, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said it only engaged in “routine and customary interactions” with government officials.
“Your assertion that it is ‘routine and customary’ for the President of the United States to endorse a multi-billion merger that had been pending for more than eight months just days after the CEO of Skydance sat next to the President at an Ultimate Fighting Championships event is profoundly troubling,” the letter reads.
Raskin and Pallone ask Ellison to respond to their second inquiry by Nov. 26.
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Wednesday’s letter marks the latest instance of Democratic lawmakers scrutinizing the Paramount-Skydance merger. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) led a similar investigation.
Since taking over in August, Ellison has been determined to overhaul the company’s operations by laying off 2,000 employees and overseeing a major shake-up at CBS. Under Weiss’s leadership, CBS has already granted Trump an interview on 60 Minutes after last year’s editing fiasco.
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