CBS News and its parent company Paramount has agreed a settlement with Donald Trump over the editing of an interview with his presidential rival Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign.
Under the agreement announced Tuesday, CBS will pay the Trump campaign $16 million, though it won’t be required to apologise. In a case brought in the US District Court in Texas last October, Trump alleged his electoral chances were harmed after the network aired two separate versions of an answer given by the then vice president.
CBS aired two versions of Ms Harris’ interview for the flagship 60 Minutes programme in which she appears to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Hamas war, according to the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said the president had delivered “another win for the American people” in the settlement “as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit.”
During his presidential campaign, Trump had threatened to revoke the network’s broadcast licence.
Trump will not benefit directly from the $16 million that will go to his presidential library.
The settlement will clear the way for Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which will requires approval from the US Federal Communications Commission.
