Democratic lawmakers are intensifying their scrutiny of Paramount CEO David Ellison amid the company’s legal battle to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Ellison accusing him of colluding with President Trump and urging him to answer questions about the deal.
Concerns Over Media Consolidation
The letter highlights concerns about Paramount taking control of Warner-owned CNN, which has been a global news brand for 46 years. Ellison has stated that he wants to bring CNN back to its news roots, but this comment has raised eyebrows given the network’s long history of journalism.
Raskin’s letter also suggests that Paramount’s dealings with the Trump administration will be a priority for the Judiciary Committee if Democrats regain the House majority in the midterm elections. The committee may probe the Justice Department’s approval of the Paramount merger, which many critics have linked to Trump’s personal interest in the deal.
Merger On Hold
The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger is currently frozen due to a state antitrust lawsuit and a parallel lawsuit from the Writers Guild of America. Paramount has agreed not to complete the merger until a trial is held or until June 1, 2027. A trial is slated to be held in March, although a settlement is possible before then.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
