Congressman Jamie Raskin Accuses David Ellison of Colluding With Trump to ‘Curtail Media Independence’

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin has written a letter to Paramount CEO David Ellison, accusing him of collaborating with former President Donald Trump to restrict media freedom, enforce political censorship, and stifle dissent, as the company pursues a $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Raskin cites a Wall Street Journal report that Ellison allegedly promised administration officials sweeping changes to CNN in exchange for acquiring the network, a claim the CEO denies.

Raskin asserts that Ellison eagerly complied with Trump's demands, as evidenced by a recent New York Times op-ed where Ellison addressed a lawsuit from twelve state attorneys general seeking to block the merger. Ellison argues that the lawsuit is about his ownership of CNN, not the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Despite Ellison's denials, Raskin contends that the CBS takeover "already tells a sharply different story."

His letter alleges that Ellison's media empire is working in concert with the Trump administration to suppress political opposition and spread misinformation, likening it to authoritarian regimes in Russia, North Korea, and China. Raskin notes that Ellison has yet to respond to four letters inquiring about the merger and collusion allegations, and warns that the House Judiciary Committee plans to investigate potential antitrust law violations and the impact on free speech and the press.

Raskin urges Ellison to participate in a transcribed interview with Congress and the American public within five days of the federal trial, set for August 26. The Paramount-Warner Bros. deal remains on hold, pending trial proceedings scheduled for March 2027.