Dan Rather Denounces Paramount's $16M Trump Settlement as Extortion

Dan Rather, the legendary former CBS News anchor, has strongly condemned Paramount Global's decision to settle a $20 billion lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump for $16 million. The suit accused 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris, but legal experts widely considered the case frivolous and protected under the First Amendment. Rather described the settlement as a 'sell-out to extortion' and criticized Paramount's corporate owners for prioritizing financial interests over journalistic integrity, linking the decision to Paramount's ongoing $8 billion merger negotiations with Skydance that require Trump-controlled FCC approval. Despite the settlement, no apology was issued by Paramount, and transcripts of future interviews with presidential candidates will be released. Rather expressed his full support for CBS News and 60 Minutes, emphasizing that the newsroom fought hard against the lawsuit and that 60 Minutes had followed accepted journalistic practices. He lamented the broader implications for press freedom, warning that this precedent could pressure news organizations to capitulate to political and financial threats in the future.