Paramount infighting stalls Shari Redstones push to settle $20B Trump suit: Decision constipation
Shari Redstone-controlled Paramount is poised to settle a closely watched legal battle with President Trump over alleged deceptive editing of a controversial “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris – but warring factions within the company have delayed the move, On The Money has learned.The media giant is said to be willing to spend up to $50 million to end the $20 billion lawsuit brought by Trump, thus lifting a legal black cloud that is that is hampering Redstone’s plans to sell Paramount, and its CBS News subsidiary at the center of the lawsuit, to independent studio Skydance in a deal valued at $8 billion, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.But the infighting inside Paramount has paralyzed Redstone & Co.from pulling the trigger, leaving management and board members in limbo, the sources said.“There seems to be a bit of decision constipation on their part,” said a lawyer with knowledge of the matter.
“(Redstone) has been poised to settle this for months but is getting conflicting advice.”Another lawyer close to the situation said a “decision could be made tonight or tomorrow.”The board literally has an emergency meeting every week on when to settle,” the source said.Press reps for Redstone and Paramount declined comment, but didn’t deny the substance of this report.Redstone and her board are said to be facing some significant internal pressure from members of her legal team and others not to cave to Trump’s demands.They say the Trump litigation is frivolous, and “60 Minutes” has denied any improper editing of the Harris segment.This faction argues that a settlement would also be seen as an affront to press freedom, that Redstone would be acquiescing to alleged extortion to the president and his power over the administrative state.Earlier in the week, socialist Vermont Sen.
Bernie Sanders wrote on X: “I say to Shari Redstone: Enough is enough.Do not capitulate to Trump’s attack on a free press.
Do not...