UPDATED: The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee wants Paramount CEO to sit for a transcribed interview to answer questions on its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
The letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is just the latest that Democrats have sent to Ellison, as they amplify their criticisms and opposition to the transaction. In the letter, Raskin cited changes Ellison has made to CBS News and potential changes if Paramount gains control of CNN, accusing the CEO of “colluding with President Trump and his administration to curtail media independence.” The letter referred to a Wall Street Journal report from December, citing unnamed sources, that Ellison offered “assurances to Trump administration officials that if he bought Warner, he’d make sweeping changes to CNN.”
Later on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount has discussed creating an editorial board for CNN when the merger closes. That move would be to try to alleviate concerns over the editorial independence of the network.
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Ellison last week published an op ed in The New York Times defending the proposed merger and claiming that the opposition is fueled by concerns over what will happen to CNN.
In his op ed, Ellison wrote that news organizations require independence, while he said that CNN and CBS News, which Paramount already owns, “are here to tell it straight down the middle.”
Responding to the report of a potential editorial board for CNN, a Paramount spokesperson said in a statement, “We always remain open to internal improvements to journalistic integrity. However, as we have maintained, using state powers to try to control speech would threaten the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading a dozen state attorneys general who are challenging the merger, has denied that CNN is the reason for the lawsuit and has said that a settlement would require structural remedies that would mitigate concerns over the merger’s impact on competition.
An editorial board would be unique for a major television news network, and much would depend on the make up of its members. When Skydance sought regulatory approval to purchase Paramount last year, it committed to hiring an ombudsman to take complaints about the news division. The person hired in the role, Kenneth Weinstein, formerly led the conservative Hudson Institute.
In his letter, Raskin also raised antitrust concerns, while noting the ongoing state AGs’ lawsuit.
Raskin wrote in the letter, “Last week, in a New York Times op-ed, you pledged to tell your story and stay silent ‘no more.’ This is great news. Over the past 12 months, I have sent you four letters. You have responded to none of them. Now that you have vowed to break your long silence, I invite you to a transcribed interview to tell Congress and America your story and answer the Committee’s questions about your Donald Trump-enabled shopping spree to consolidate news organizations, movie studios, cable channels, and streaming services.”
He gave Ellison until August 26 to schedule an interview.
As the minority party, Democrats cannot compel Ellison to testify. But Raskin and others have suggested that Paramount and other mergers would be under scrutiny should the party regain control of one or more houses of Congress.
At a Politico event on Tuesday, Paramount’s chief legal officer Makan Delrahim said, “You can allege all you want. There is no corruption here.” He said that they would be “happy to engage with” Raskin and “provide him, as we have, with information.”
“We respect his role and his important role in oversight,” Delrahim said. “But just because he said so doesn’t mean that there’s any corruption.”
CNN first reported on Raskin’s letter.
The Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee held a hearing in February on Netflix’s plans to merge with WBD, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos appearing before lawmakers, weeks before the streamer dropped its bid amid Paramount’s counteroffer. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said that he invited Ellison to participate in that hearing, but he declined.
