Raskin Seeks Aug. 26 Interview With Ellison on Paramount-WBD Merger as Democrats Press Media Independence
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Aug 12
Raskin Seeks Aug. 26 Interview With Ellison on Paramount-WBD Merger as Democrats Press Media Independence
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Aug 12
Summary
Aug. 26 is the deadline Rep. Jamie Raskin set for Paramount CEO David Ellison to schedule a transcribed House Judiciary interview on Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Raskin said the deal raises media-independence and antitrust concerns, citing changes at CBS News, possible changes at CNN, and a Wall Street Journal report that Ellison offered Trump officials assurances about remaking CNN.
The letter escalates a broader Democratic campaign against the transaction: Raskin said Ellison ignored four letters over the past 12 months, and he pointed to a lawsuit from 12 state attorneys general.
Paramount has denied wrongdoing. Chief legal officer Makan Delrahim said Tuesday the company would engage with Raskin and provide information, while rejecting allegations of corruption.
Democrats cannot compel testimony while in the minority, but the scrutiny adds political risk to a merger already under congressional and state-level examination.