In a surprising move related to ongoing legal proceedings, CBS has agreed to hand over an unedited version of its October interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

This decision comes amid a heated legal battle with former President Donald Trump, who has accused CBS of improperly editing the interview to favor Harris, leading him to file a $10 million lawsuit against the network, as Breitbart reports.

CBS’s decision to release the full transcript marks a significant development in this high-profile dispute. The lawsuit, initiated by Trump in Texas on Nov. 1, alleges that the edits made to the Harris interview amounted to partisan interference with voters.

According to Trump, this manipulation cast the vice president in a particularly positive light, possibly affecting public perception.

CBS Denies Allegations of Editing Bias

Reports have stated that CBS’s parent company, Paramount, is currently negotiating with Trump’s legal representatives to potentially settle the lawsuit.

This unusual legal confrontation has drawn attention not only due to the figures involved but also because it revolves around claims of media bias and integrity.

The interview initially raised eyebrows when differing responses from Harris to a single question were aired on two separate programs, Face the Nation on Oct. 6 and 60 Minutes on the following day.

CBS defended its actions by attributing the discrepancy in the aired clips to routine editorial practices, justifying the edits on the basis of time constraints.

Despite these explanations, Trump has pursued legal action, arguing that the edits were intentionally designed to skew public opinion. CBS’s legal team has dismissed the claims as baseless, promising to fight what they have called a lawsuit “completely without merit.”

FCC Requests Unedited Interview Material

As part of its investigation, the FCC, currently led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, has demanded not only the transcript but also the raw camera footage from the interview.

This request signifies the seriousness with which regulatory authorities are treating the allegations, despite their contentious nature. This scrutiny from the FCC adds another layer of complexity to the legal matters at hand.

Interestingly, CBS’s willingness to comply with the FCC’s demand for full transparency in this case contradicts their historical precedent.

The show 60 Minutes, renowned for its probing interviews, has typically been reluctant to share transcripts to maintain its editorial independence and avoid second-guessing its editing choices. However, the escalating legal pressures seem to have forced a concession.

Similar Battles and Prior Settlements

The resolution of this case is further complicated by Paramount’s ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration concerning the sale of the company to Skydance, a development which could influence the direction of the lawsuit.

Notably, CBS isn’t the first media outlet to face legal challenges posed by Trump. Late last year, ABC News reached a settlement in a defamation case, opting to contribute $15 million to Trump's presidential library.

Similarly, a legal disagreement with Meta over the suspension of Trump’s social media accounts on the heels of the Jan. 6 Capitol unrest culminated in a $25 million settlement.

CBS’s current predicament underscores the intricate web of legal, political, and media relations issues underlining their dealings with Trump. The outcome of this lawsuit could set significant precedents for how media outlets navigate edits and portrayals of political figures. With the full transcript now in the hands of the FCC, further developments in this saga are awaited eagerly by both legal experts and the general public.