CBS agrees to hand over 60 Minutes Harris interview transcripts to FCC – Washington Examiner
CBS has agreed to provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with an unedited transcript of its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris from October, following a lawsuit by former President Donald Trump. Trump claims the interview was deceptively edited to favor harris, resulting in a $10 million lawsuit against CBS for “partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference.” The FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, is conducting a parallel investigation into the matter. CBS has previously resisted releasing interview transcripts to protect its editing practices. The case is drawing attention from press freedom advocates, and CBS’s legal team asserts that Trump’s lawsuit lacks merit. Meanwhile, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, is reportedly in discussions with Trump’s lawyers for a potential settlement, which could resonate with similar cases in the media sphere, such as other settlements involving Trump and major news networks.
CBS agrees to hand over 60 Minutes Harris interview transcripts to FCC
CBS says it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, part of President Donald Trump’s fight with the network over how it handled a story about his opponent.
Trump sued CBS for $10 million over the 60 Minutes interview, claiming it was deceptively edited to make Harris look good. Published reports said that CBS’ parent company, Paramount, has been talking to Trump’s lawyers about a settlement.
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The network said Friday that it was compelled by Brendan Carr, Trump’s appointee as FCC chairman, to turn over the transcripts and camera feeds of the interview for a parallel investigation by the commission. 60 Minutes has resisted releasing transcripts for this and all of its interviews, to avoid second-guessing of its editing process.
The case, particularly a potential settlement, is being closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump’s lawsuit “completely without merit” and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed.
The Harris interview initially drew attention because CBS News showed Harris giving completely different responses to a question posed by correspondent Bill Whitaker in clips that were aired on Face the Nation on Oct. 6 and the next night on 60 Minutes. The network said each clip came from a lengthy response by Harris to Whitaker’s question, but they were edited to fit time constraints on both broadcasts.
In his lawsuit, filed in Texas on Nov. 1, Trump charged it was deceptive editing designed to benefit Harris and constituted “partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference.”
Trump, who turned down a request to be interviewed by 60 Minutes during the campaign, has continued his fight despite winning the election less than a week after the lawsuit was filed.
The network has not commented on talks about a settlement, reported by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Paramount executives are seeking Trump administration approval of a sale of the company to another entertainment firm, Skydance.
ABC News in December settled a defamation lawsuit by Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Meta has reportedly paid $25 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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