California’s Senate has opened a joint Judiciary-Communications inquiry into reports that Paramount Global tried to pay Donald Trump $15 million to settle his defamation suit over a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris, a move lawmakers say could violate state anti-bribery and unfair-competition statutes.
Senators Tom Umberg and Josh Becker have requested testimony from recently departed CBS News chief Wendy McMahon and former “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens and warned they will use subpoena power if needed.
The inquiry follows Wall Street Journal reporting that Paramount, eager to close out litigation before a potential corporate sale, floated a $15 million offer that Trump rebuffed while demanding $25 million and a public apology. People familiar with the talks say Trump’s lawyers have also proposed free campaign advertising on CBS as part of any deal.
Trump’s lawsuit claims the broadcast was deceptively edited to favor Harris, an allegation legal analysts have largely dismissed as weak but costly to defend. Paramount has declined comment on both the settlement discussions and the legislative probe. Media ethicists, including veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, warn that paying a sitting president to drop a meritless case could erode public trust in journalism.
Investors reacted swiftly: Paramount shares fell about two percent in afternoon trading after news of the probe, adding pressure to a company already navigating debt and a possible merger with Skydance Media. Industry observers note that any finding of impropriety could complicate regulatory reviews tied to that deal and expose executives to civil penalties.
Hearings could begin as early as mid-June; senators say they will examine internal emails to determine whether the settlement was aimed at influencing federal policy or campaign dynamics rather than resolving a private dispute. Trump’s lawyers, meanwhile, hint they are prepared to revive the litigation in federal court if Paramount does not meet their terms, keeping the defamation battle—and its political undertones—alive heading into the summer.
