NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump suffered “mental anguish” from CBS Information’ modifying of a “60 Minutes” interview with Democratic opponent Kamala Harris final fall, his attorneys are arguing in courtroom papers.
Trump’s standing as a “content creator” was additionally broken by consideration given to the interview, attorneys stated. It was a part of their argument opposing CBS father or mother Paramount International’s effort to dismiss the president’s $20 billion lawsuit towards the corporate, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court docket in Amarillo, Texas. Trump has claimed the modifying was carried out to benefit Harris, which CBS rejects.
Even with the hassle to dismiss the case, Paramount is engaged in settlement discussions with Trump. The prospect of a settlement has so rattled CBS Information that two of its prime executives have resigned in protest.
Trump, who didn’t comply with be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, has protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show’s Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” earlier within the day. CBS stated every reply got here inside Harris’ long-winded reply to Whitaker, however was edited to be extra succinct.
Trump’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, stated that “this led to widespread confusion and mental anguish of consumers, including plaintiffs, regarding a household name of the legacy media apparently deceptively distorting its broadcasts, and then resisting attempts to clear the public record.”
As a result of they have been misled, voters withheld consideration from Trump and his Fact Social platform, Paltzik argued.
Trump, described as a “media icon” by his attorneys, was “forced to redirect significant time, money and effort to correcting the public record,” he stated.
Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone are looking for the settlement with Trump, whose administration should approve the corporate’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. CBS Information’ president and CEO, Wendy McMahon, and “60 Minutes” govt producer Invoice Owens, who each opposed a settlement, have resigned in current weeks.
In the meantime, the Freedom of the Press Basis, a media advocacy group that claims it’s a Paramount shareholder, stated that it might file a lawsuit in protest if a settlement is reached.
Seth Stern, the inspiration’s advocacy director, stated a settlement of Trump’s “meritless” lawsuit “may well be a thinly veiled effort to launder bribes through the court system.” U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have stated they’re investigating whether or not a settlement would violate bribery legal guidelines.
The Wall Road Journal reported on Thursday that Paramount has provided $15 million to settle however that Trump desires extra money — and an apology. An organization consultant wouldn’t touch upon the report.
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David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Observe him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
