Colbert Slams Paramount For Settling With Trump, Accuses His Parent Company Of Offering A 'big Fat Bribe'

Late-night big Stephen Colbert unleashed connected Paramount, his employer, for settling pinch President Donald Trump successful his predetermination interference suit against nan institution complete a "60 Minutes" interview. Both that programme and "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" aerial connected Paramount-owned CBS. 

"I judge this benignant of analyzable financial sentiment pinch a sitting authorities charismatic has a method sanction successful ineligible circles. It’s ‘big fat bribe,’ because it each comes arsenic Paramount’s owners are trying to get nan Trump management to o.k. nan waste of our web to a caller owner, Skydance!" Colbert said. 

Paramount, CBS' genitor company, agreed connected July 1 to salary nan president a sum that could scope northbound of $30 cardinal to settee Trump’s predetermination interference suit against nan network. 

Colbert joked that Paramount issued a connection that read, "You whitethorn return our money, but you will ne'er return our dignity. You may, however, acquisition our dignity for nan low, debased value of $16 million. We request nan cash."

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Late-night big Stephen Colbert went disconnected connected his employer connected Monday, Paramount, complete settling pinch President Trump (CBS/StephenColbert)

"Some of nan TV typers retired location are blogging that erstwhile Skydance gets CBS, nan caller owners’ desire to please Trump will ‘put unit connected late-night big and predominant Trump professional Stephen Colbert,’" he said, stroking his mustache. "Okay, but really are they going to put unit connected Stephen Colbert… if they can’t find him?"

Trump was seeking $20 cardinal successful his suit against CBS complete its handling of a "60 Minutes" question and reply past twelvemonth pinch then-Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing nan web of predetermination interference starring up to nan 2024 contest. CBS is not acknowledging immoderate journalistic wrongdoing pinch nan settlement. 

The suit alleged CBS News deceitfully edited an speech Harris had pinch "60 Minutes" analogous Bill Whitaker, who asked her why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to nan Biden administration. Harris was wide mocked for nan "word salad" reply that aired successful a preview clip of nan question and reply connected CBS' "Face nan Nation," but nan edited consequence that aired during a "60 Minutes" primetime typical depicted Harris giving a much concise and nonstop answer.  

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Fox News Digital reached retired to Paramount and CBS for comment, but did not instantly perceive back. 

Colbert besides called out his Paramount bosses successful May complete reports that controlling shareholder Shari Redstone put unit connected "60 Minutes" to debar captious sum of nan president amid nan lawsuit. 

CBS staffers were outraged complete nan settlement, which besides prompted extended backlash from media watchdogs, publicity defense groups, wide journalists and moreover Democratic lawmakers. 

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CBS News signage up of nan first vice statesmanlike statement astatine nan CBS Broadcast Center successful New York, US, connected Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., issued a scathing connection that said nan colony sets an "extremely vulnerable precedent successful position of some nan First Amendment and authorities extortion," while Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., accused Paramount of taking a "bribe" and threatened early national charges. 

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Fox News' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.