Sen. Schiff Says ABC and CBS Will Face Congressional Investigation Over Trump Settlements Here’s What the $31 Million in Payouts Actually Covered

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) warned ABC News and CBS News on Friday that their multi-million dollar settlements with President Donald Trump will face congressional investigation if Democrats retake control of Congress in the 2026 midterms. Schiff made the remarks on Friday’s episode of “The Town” podcast, telling media companies they need to understand there will be an accounting if improper considerations drove those deals. The warning arrives as ABC News and CBS News collectively paid $31 million to settle Trump lawsuits over edited interviews — deals that triggered newsroom resignations, press freedom alarm bells, and now a direct political threat from the Senate’s minority bench.

Field	Detail
Who Issued the Warning	Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Where It Was Said	“The Town” podcast with Matt Belloni — March 28, 2026
Networks Targeted	ABC News (Disney) / CBS News (Paramount)
ABC Settlement Amount	$15 million + $1 million in attorneys’ fees
CBS Settlement Amount	$16 million (upfront sum)
Total Paid to Trump	$31 million (combined)
Trump’s Original CBS Ask	$10 billion
Trigger for ABC Settlement	Trump lawsuit over George Stephanopoulos comments
Trigger for CBS Settlement	“60 Minutes” edited Kamala Harris interview (2024)
Schiff’s Condition	Democrats winning back Congress in 2026 midterms
Corporate Pressure Alleged	FCC approval of Paramount-Skydance merger ($8 billion)

What ABC and CBS Actually Paid Trump — and Why

The two settlements Schiff is targeting involve separate Trump lawsuits against separate networks, but both ended with cash changing hands and questions about whether corporate interests — not legal merit — drove the outcomes.

ABC News paid a $15 million settlement plus $1 million in attorneys’ fees, likely in an effort to mitigate future retaliation from the President — before Trump even returned to office. The case involved statements made by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos during a broadcast.

CBS News and its parent company Paramount paid a $16 million upfront sum to settle Trump’s lawsuit over how “60 Minutes” edited and released an interview with then-Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. Trump’s legal team, which initially sought $10 billion, accused CBS of “election interference,” asserting the network cleaned up her poorly-worded response to a question about Israel.

Both networks made only narrow policy adjustments that fell short of the sweeping “course correction” Trump’s legal team had promised — raising questions about whether the legal pressure reformed journalism or simply forced corporate surrender.

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Why Critics Say the CBS Settlement Was About Paramount’s Merger — Not the Lawsuit

The CBS deal drew particular scrutiny because of its timing relative to a multibillion-dollar corporate transaction.

Behind the settlement lay corporate pressure. Paramount believed Trump’s lawsuit threatened its pending merger with Skydance Media, which required FCC approval. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, had indicated the “60 Minutes” interview would be scrutinised during the merger review.

Schiff directly accused the Trump administration of putting its “hand on the scale” in favour of Paramount in its bidding war against Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery — which Paramount ultimately won.

Inside CBS News, the settlement triggered anger and resignations. “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News President Wendy McMahon both departed. Producer Rome Hartman called it “a cowardly capitulation by the corporate leaders of Paramount, and a fundamental betrayal of ’60 Minutes’ and CBS News.”

What Schiff Actually Said — and What He Is and Isn’t Promising

Schiff’s remarks were a warning, not a formal announcement of proceedings. Democrats do not currently control Congress, and whether they will after the 2026 midterms is not known.

Schiff said: “These studios, these companies, these media conglomerates need to understand that right now it may be carte blanche for them… but there’s going to be an investigation into all of this when the Congress changes hands. And if there were improper considerations that went into greasing the skids on this, this is going to come to light.”

He added: “There’s going to be an accounting and companies need to know that if they’re engaged in corrupt or illicit activity or improper activity that there’s going to be accountability.”

Schiff did not name specific laws he believes were broken, nor did he identify which congressional committee would lead such an inquiry. His remarks represent a political signal to media conglomerates — not a current legal proceeding.

The CNN Angle — and Why Schiff Raised the Ellisons

Schiff’s remarks extended beyond ABC and CBS to raise concerns about CNN’s future ownership.

Schiff speculated that Trump is focused on shifting CNN’s editorial content. CNN currently sits under Warner Bros. Discovery, which could soon fall to Paramount CEO David Ellison and his billionaire father Larry Ellison, who is backing Paramount’s $111 billion merger offer. The Ellisons are known for their close relationship with Trump — leaving critics raising alarms that CNN could shift editorially under new ownership.

No settlement involving CNN has been confirmed. Schiff’s comments on CNN were speculative, framed as a broader concern about corporate consolidation in media and its relationship with the current administration’s regulatory decisions.

Key Events in the ABC and CBS Trump Settlement Timeline

Milestone	Date
Trump files lawsuit against ABC News / Stephanopoulos	2024
Trump files $10 billion lawsuit against CBS / “60 Minutes”	2024
ABC News pays $15M + $1M attorneys’ fees to settle	Before January 2025
CBS / Paramount pays $16M upfront sum to settle	July 2025
Paramount-Skydance merger receives FCC green light	Days after CBS settlement
Schiff leads Senate Democrats inquiry into FCC’s Brendan Carr	September 24, 2025
CBS News President Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” EP Bill Owens depart	Post-settlement 2025
Schiff threatens ABC and CBS investigation on “The Town” podcast	March 28, 2026
2026 midterm elections	November 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did ABC News pay Trump and why? 

ABC News paid $15 million plus $1 million in attorneys’ fees to settle Trump’s lawsuit — an outcome critics described as a move to avoid further regulatory retaliation, made before Trump formally returned to office. The case stemmed from on-air statements by anchor George Stephanopoulos.

What did CBS News pay Trump and why?

 CBS News parent Paramount paid $16 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” edit of a Kamala Harris interview during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump’s team had originally sought $10 billion. Critics alleged the settlement was timed to clear regulatory hurdles for Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.

Can Schiff actually investigate ABC and CBS? 

Only if Democrats win back control of Congress in the November 2026 midterms. As a Senate minority member, Schiff currently has no subpoena power or committee chairmanship to launch a formal investigation. His remarks are a conditional threat contingent on an election outcome that has not yet occurred.

Did the settlements change how ABC and CBS report the news?

 Both networks made only narrow policy adjustments following the settlements — changes that fell well short of the broad editorial overhaul Trump’s legal team had sought. Whether those adjustments reflect genuine editorial shifts or symbolic gestures is a matter of ongoing debate among journalists and media critics.

What is the press freedom concern Schiff raised earlier?

 In September 2025, Schiff led eight Senate Democrats in demanding answers from FCC Chair Brendan Carr about what they described as an unprecedented assault on press freedom — following implicit threats to revoke ABC’s broadcast licence if it refused to act against “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” That letter laid the groundwork for the broader accountability argument Schiff is now extending to the networks’ settlements.

What does this mean for media companies negotiating with the Trump administration?

 Schiff’s warning creates a two-sided political risk for major media conglomerates: settling with Trump draws scrutiny from Democrats who may hold investigative power after 2026, while not settling risks ongoing regulatory pressure under the current administration. First Amendment attorney Bob Corn-Revere said the CBS settlement sent a chilling message — noting “a cold wind just blew through every newsroom.”

Sources & References

• Fox News Digital original reporting (March 28, 2026): foxnews.com/media/schiff-threatens-investigate-abc-cbs-trump-settlements
• Sen. Schiff official press release — FCC inquiry letter (September 24, 2025): schiff.senate.gov
• Washington Times — “The $31 million question” (February 14, 2026): washingtontimes.com

Last Updated: March 28, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The remarks described represent a political statement by a sitting U.S. Senator and do not constitute a formal legal proceeding. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.