Trump Sues CBS News For $10 Billion Over Harris Interview Editing

Former President Donald Trump has filed a $10 million lawsuit against CBS, claiming the network engaged in what he deems “fake news” by airing an edited version of an answer by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In an interview with Bill Whitaker, Harris was asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “listening” to the Biden administration. Her full response reportedly was: “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.”

However, the version CBS aired showed Harris responding, “We are not gonna stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.” CBS declined to release a full transcript of her remarks.

In a statement, CBS defended its editing process, saying, “Former President Donald Trump is accusing 60 Minutes of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. That is false.” The network explained that a different, longer portion of Harris’s answer aired on Face the Nation, noting, “When we edit any interview...we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion on 60 Minutes was more succinct, allowing time for other topics in a broad, 21-minute segment.”

The network further noted, “Remember, Mr. Trump pulled out of his interview with 60 Minutes, while the vice president participated. Our invitation to former President Trump remains open if he wishes to discuss national issues and the Harris interview.”

In the lawsuit, Trump’s attorneys argued, “President Trump brings this action to redress the immense harm caused to him, to his campaign, and to tens of millions of citizens in Texas and across America by CBS’s deceptive broadcasting conduct,” as reported by Fox News. The lawsuit contends that CBS went beyond standard editing, alleging, “To paper over Kamala’s ‘word salad’ weakness, CBS used its national platform on 60 Minutes to cross the line…to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news.”

The suit seeks $10 billion in damages, claiming “ongoing false, misleading, and deceptive acts,” along with a jury trial, attorney fees, and other relief.

Additionally, the FCC has launched an investigation into the editing. FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington remarked that while frivolous complaints are common, this one appears “to have merit” due to the differences in the two responses. “The FCC does not regulate, or even respond to, politically unfavorable coverage or legitimate editorial discretion,” he told The Daily Caller News Foundation. However, he noted that this case might involve “whether or not coverage was intentionally distorted.”

An unnamed source indicated that the Democratic FCC Chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, is unlikely to pursue the complaint just 18 days before the presidential election.