Senator Elizabeth Warren remains unconvinced that Paramount Global and Skydance Media didn’t strike any “corrupt side deals or political favors” with the Trump administration to secure their merger’s approval.
In letters sent to Skydance CEO David Ellison on July 21 and to Paramount Global’s co-CEOs on May 19, Warren — joined by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — raised concerns about the $16 million settlement between Paramount and President Trump over his lawsuit involving 60 Minutes, and the broader merger between Skydance and Paramount. The senators suggested that the settlement may have been intended as a political bribe.
Both companies responded on July 31, asserting they followed all legal obligations. But Warren found those responses lacking.
“These dodgy responses raise even more questions about whether Paramount and Skydance engaged in corrupt side deals or political favors to get their merger approved — and reveal why we need a full, independent investigation into whether there was any criminal behavior,” she said in a statement on Friday.
Representatives for Paramount Global and Skydance declined to comment.
In their letter to Ellison, the senators cited former President Trump’s claim that a side agreement existed in which the merged company would contribute $20 million worth of advertising, public service announcements, and other content supporting causes he favors. This would be in addition to Paramount’s $16 million payout settling the lawsuit over the 60 Minutes interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris.
Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, Skydance’s general counsel and co-president of business operations, didn’t address whether such a side deal exists. Instead, she noted that Skydance “was neither a party to the lawsuit nor to Paramount’s settlement of its litigation with the President.” Paramount, for its part, stated that the settlement “does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs.”
Warren responded Friday, calling the possible existence of a “secret side deal” between Trump and Skydance “a big open question.”
“Paramount contradicts President Trump’s claim, while Skydance does not deny the existence of this side deal — and refuses to disclose any terms,” she said. “Skydance’s statements regarding meetings with not just ‘federal regulators’ but also ‘the Administration’ raises serious concerns and more questions: Did the Skydance CEO meet and speak with President Trump or top White House officials? Who met whom, when, and what other deals were made?”
The FCC gave final approval to the merger on July 24, with the deal expected to close by August 7. Just two days prior, McKinnon sent letters to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr assuring that the new entity would install an ombudsman at CBS to review complaints and pledged not to enforce any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Paramount Global, President Trump, and FCC Chair Carr have each asserted that the approval of the merger was unrelated to Trump’s lawsuit. In her July 31 response, McKinnon wrote, “Throughout its history and during the review of the proposed acquisition of Paramount, Skydance has fully complied with all applicable laws, including our nation’s anti-bribery laws.”
The senators also inquired whether Ellison or other Skydance executives were involved in CBS’s decision to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. McKinnon replied that Skydance had no role in that decision, stating Paramount made the call independently and only informed Skydance shortly before the public announcement. CBS has said the decision was based solely on financial considerations.
Warren, however, wasn’t convinced. “Skydance admits it knew in advance that Paramount canceled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, just days after Colbert called out Paramount for its ‘big fat bribe.’ These giant corporations must think Americans are fools if they think these half-answers resolve serious questions about whether they bribed their way to a merger approval.”
In their response, Paramount’s co-CEOs George Cheeks, Brian Robbins, and Chris McCarthy clarified that the $16 million settlement would be directed — minus fees and costs — toward a nonprofit presidential library. “No amount will be paid directly or indirectly to President Trump… personally,” they wrote.
They added that the settlement includes no apology or admission of wrongdoing and explicitly states Paramount stands by its reporting. “There are no other material terms to the settlement,” the executives wrote.
They also referenced earlier remarks by Cheeks at a July 2 shareholder meeting, where he said companies often settle litigation to avoid the high cost and unpredictability of trials, the risk of reputational damage, and operational disruption.
The executives emphasized that the company “did not alter its oversight of 60 Minutes or block any 60 Minutes content to facilitate approval of the proposed transaction.” They also highlighted the appointment of Susan Zirinsky as interim executive editor of CBS News in January 2025, noting her role in overseeing standards across the news division — including 60 Minutes. They said that her hiring and other personnel decisions were not connected to the litigation or merger proceedings.
In April, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens announced his departure, citing what he described as interference from Paramount executives that compromised his editorial independence.
