August 01, 2025

Warren on Skydance, Paramount Dodgy Responses: “We Need an Independent Investigation"

Warren releases new Paramount response to previous oversight

Paramount Response (PDF) | Skydance Response (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – In response to Paramount’s and Skydance’s new responses to her recent letters, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement:

“These dodgy responses raise even more questions about whether Paramount and Skydance engaged in corrupt side deals or political favors to get their merger approved — and reveal why we need a full, independent investigation into whether there was any criminal behavior.

“The existence of a secret side deal with Skydance is a big open question. President Trump claimed that there was a $16 million side deal. Paramount contradicts President Trump’s claim, while Skydance does not deny the existence of this side deal — and refuses to disclose any terms.

“Skydance’s statements regarding meetings with not just ‘federal regulators’ but also ‘the Administration’ raises serious concerns and more questions: Did the Skydance CEO meet and speak with President Trump or top White House officials? Who met whom, when, and what other deals were made?

“Skydance admits it knew in advance that Paramount canceled the ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ just days after Colbert called out Paramount for its ‘big fat bribe.’ These giant corporations must think Americans are fools if they think these half-answers resolve serious questions about whether they bribed their way to a merger approval.”

Key points from the companies’ responses:

  • Paramount contradicted President Donald Trump on the existence of a multi-million dollar side deal involving public service announcements (PSAs), stating that beyond its $16 million payment, “There are no other material terms to the settlement.” Skydance skirted all questions, refusing to deny the existence of the multi-million dollar secret side deal.
  • Skydance revealed it had contact with Trump administration officials about the merger in addition to federal regulators.
  • Skydance claimed it was not involved in the decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s show. Paramount did not address the issue.
  • Skydance revealed that Paramount requested Skydance’s consent to a particular term relating to the publication of transcripts of interviews of Presidential candidates — and Skydance approved.

Senator Warren has led the charge to determine if Paramount bribed President Trump in exchange for approval of its multi-billion-dollar megamerger with Skydance, and has fought relentlessly against President Trump's corruption:

  • On July 24, Senator Warren responded to the Trump administration’s approval of the Paramount-Skydance megamerger, saying “bribery is illegal no matter who is president.”
  • On July 23, Senator Warren published an op-ed in Variety: “Elizabeth Warren on Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation: Is the Paramount Trump Payoff a Bribe?”
  • On July 21, Senators Warren, Sanders (I-Vt.), and Wyden (D-Ore.) pressed David Ellison, CEO of Skydance, about reports of a secret deal between Skydance and President Trump — and how it may be related to Paramount’s recent multi-million-dollar settlement agreement with Trump.
  • On July 17, Senators Warren and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Melane Stansbury (D-N.M.), and lawmakers in Congress unveiled the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act to close loopholes that allow presidential libraries to be used as tools for corruption and bribery.
  • On July 2, Senator Warren called for an investigation into Paramount’s settlement with Trump.
  • On May 19, Senators Warren, Sanders, and Wyden wrote to Shari Redstone, Chair of Paramount, with concerns regarding whether Paramount may be engaging in potentially illegal conduct involving the Trump Administration in exchange for approval of its megamerger with Skydance.

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