• House Democrat accuses network of cutting questions about pardons at Trump’s request
• Investigation follows $16 million settlement between Paramount and president over Harris interview
• Newly appointed ombudsman faces first major test of independence from conservative critics

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is demanding CBS News and its parent company Paramount provide more information about how the network edited an interview with President Donald Trump that aired on “60 Minutes” last month. The House Judiciary Committee ranking member filed a formal complaint Wednesday alleging the Raskin demands CBS explain its editorial decisions after apparent presidential interference.

Allegations of Editorial Interference

Raskin’s letter to newly appointed CBS News ombudsman Kenneth Weinstein blasted the network for what he characterized as “improper influence President Donald Trump wielded over CBS News’s editorial decisions” during the November 2 interview. The Maryland Democrat argues Trump is exercising direct control over editorial content while destroying the network’s journalistic integrity.

“It is one thing for CBS to make independent editorial decisions protected by the First Amendment. It is quite another to make edits at the President’s demand out of fear of retribution,” Raskin wrote in the letter shared exclusively with The Hill.

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The aired portion of Trump’s interview with correspondent Norah O’Donnell ran 28 minutes, while an extended online version ran 73 minutes from a 90-minute session. Raskin alleges CBS omitted critical exchanges about potential conflicts of interest at Trump’s direction.

Specific Omissions Cited

The complaint highlights CBS’s decision to exclude O’Donnell’s questioning about Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to money laundering. Zhao’s company struck a $2 billion deal with the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, raising corruption concerns among critics about pay-to-play arrangements.

“I’d rather not have you ask the question. But I let you ask it,” Trump told O’Donnell in footage that never aired publicly.

Raskin also noted that broadcast versions omitted Trump boasting about the network settlement with Paramount, which paid $16 million to resolve Trump’s lawsuit over editing of a similar interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 election.

Broader Pattern of Media Pressure

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The investigation connects to what Raskin describes as Trump’s “systematic campaign of intimidation against media organizations.” The administration has extracted multimillion-dollar settlements from ABC News and pursued lawsuits against The Des Moines Register and the BBC. The Federal Communications Commission has opened investigations into every major broadcaster except Fox News since Trump took office.

Democrats including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have suggested the Paramount settlement may violate anti-bribery laws, particularly given Trump’s claims of an additional $20 million side deal with Skydance Media’s new ownership. Paramount has denied any additional agreements beyond the disclosed settlement amount.

Ombudsman’s Independence Questioned

Raskin’s complaint turns the tables on Weinstein, formerly president and CEO of the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank. Critics expected the Paramount-appointed ombudsman to field complaints primarily from the right rather than investigating allegations of pro-Trump editorial bias from Democrats.

“Your role differs fundamentally from traditional news ombudsmen, as you report directly to Paramount executives rather than advocating for the public,” Raskin wrote to Weinstein, requesting documents and a briefing by December 17.

Neither Paramount nor CBS News has publicly responded to Raskin’s complaint. The investigation represents an escalating battle over press freedom as media companies navigate an administration willing to leverage regulatory power against critical coverage.

Will CBS News demonstrate editorial independence or continue accommodating presidential demands as scrutiny intensifies over its journalistic standards?

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