# Fair Election Fund urges FCC to hold CBS accountable for 'unlawful conduct’ related to '60 Minutes' interview

**First on Fox** -- The Fair Election Fund, a national election integrity watchdog group, urged the  to "hold CBS accountable for its unlawful conduct" related to the infamous "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

## CBS has engaged in activities that exceed the scope of the ‘legitimate press function’

Trump has alleged election interference over CBS' handling of a "60 Minutes" interview, and feels the network aided his Democratic rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, through deceptive editing one month before they faced off in the presidential election. The October 2024 sit-down with Harris has been at the center of controversy for months, with Trump taking legal action and FCC chairman Brendan Carr forcing CBS to release an unedited transcript and raw footage.

CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, insist the network did nothing wrong, but the Fair Election Fund believes the editing job constituted "an improper contribution" to the Harris campaign.



*CBS Chairman Brendan Carr has taken aim at CBS News over its "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Image | Reuters/Shannon Stapleton | Screenshots/CBS News)*

"We respectfully request that the Commission hold CBS accountable for its unlawful conduct," James Tyrell, counsel to the Fair Election Fund, wrote in the letter to the FCC that has been obtained by .

## FCC Chair calls CBS news conduct hard to explain following release of Kamala Harris interview transcript





## CBS parent company Paramount Global responds to FCC complaint

Paramount Global on Friday responded to the news distortion complaint that is on file with the FCC.

"The Complaint filed against CBS for ‘news distortion’ envisions a less free world in which the federal government becomes a roving censor—one that second guesses and even punishes specific editorial decisions that are an essential part of producing news programming," Paramount Global executives wrote.

"The protections of the First Amendment apply to all Americans, including broadcasters like CBS and its stations. A broadcaster engages in protected speech activity whenever it ‘exercises editorial discretion in the selection and presentation of its programming,’" they continued. "Indeed, the mere investigation of allegations premised on disputes over editorial judgments constitutes ‘a venture into a quagmire inappropriate for’ a government agency like the Commission—though it is not too late for the Commission to turn back by promptly closing this proceeding."

Paramount Global feels the First Amendment would not permit the government to substitute its judgment for that of a broadcaster as to the specific footage from an interview to be aired.

"None of the Supreme Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence around broadcasting has ever recognized a sweeping right by the government to second guess editorial decision-making," Paramount Global wrote.

## Trump files $20 billion lawsuit against CBS

Trump filed a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS alleging election interference over its handling of the interview, accusing the network of aiding his Democratic rival through deceptive editing just days before the election.

According to court documents reviewed by , Paramount argued last week that the lawsuit was wrongly filed by Trump's legal team in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas, despite the fact that neither Paramount nor CBS News are located in the Lone Star State, nor did any production of the "60 Minutes" interview at the center of the lawsuit have any affiliation with the state.





*Bill Whitaker’s "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris is at the center of a high-stakes lawsuit. (Screenshots/CBS News)*

In a separate filing, Paramount argued Trump's lawsuit is "an affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact," seeking to "punish a news organization for constitutionally protected editorial judgments they do not like."

Trump's legal team remains confident.



*President Trump is committed to holding those who traffic in fake news, hoaxes, and lies to account, Trump attorney Ed Paltzik told Fox News Digital in a statement. (CBS News)*

"CBS News has engaged in activities that exceed the scope of the ‘legitimate press function’ and, therefore, constitute an improper contribution to Ms. Harris’ campaign," they continued. "The results of the 2024 Presidential Election clearly demonstrate that the American public has lost confidence in the media, and, no matter what this Commission decides with respect to this matter, that lost confidence will not immediately be restored. The question is whether this Commission will further undermine the American public’s confidence in the U.S. government by giving a biased media company a ‘free pass'."

Paramount Global feels the First Amendment would not permit the government to substitute its judgment for that of a broadcaster as to the specific footage from an interview to be aired.

"None of the Supreme Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence around broadcasting has ever recognized a sweeping right by the government to second guess editorial decision-making," Paramount Global wrote.

## FOX News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

_Trian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital. Story tips can be sent to_  _and on Twitter: @briansflood._

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## Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
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