A group of eight Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, asking that he “preserve all records related to the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery transaction” — and demanding answers about how his company has interacted with President Trump and the White House in its hostile takeover bid of WBD.
The letter was sent to Ellison by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The full text of the letter is at this link.
A spokesperson for Paramount Skydance declined to immediately provide comment.
On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Discovery said it will engage in discussions with Paramount for a seven-day window to “seek clarity” on its “best and final offer” in its hostile takeover effort. That negotiating period, which Netflix granted approval for, ends Feb. 23. Paramount’s most recent offer was $30/share; WBD said it was opening talks to see if Paramount will officially bump up the bid over $31/share. At the same time, WBD said it remained committed to its $83 billion deal with Netflix for now and recommended shareholders vote in favor of that pact at a March 20 special meeting.
Ellison had previously declined an invitation to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. The subcommittee held a hearing Feb. 3, where Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros. Discovery chief revenue and strategy officer Bruce Campbell testified amid sharp questioning.
Following the hearing, Sen. Booker requested Ellison’s written testimony, “seeking insights on the proposed sale of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount’s parallel bid, and asking Ellison to address concerns about political interference in the merger review process,” according to a press release from the senators. However, they said, “Ellison’s response failed to address these issues.” Those included questions about whether Ellison had ever donated money to Trump directly or indirectly and whether there had been any communications regarding a personal benefit to Trump with a potential Paramount-WBD merger.
In the letter to Ellison, the senators noted that last week, Paramount Skydance announced that it certified “substantial compliance” with the Department of Justice’s Dec. 23, 2025, Second Request for Information, commencing a 10-day waiting period for DOJ’s review. “The announcement expressed strong confidence that Paramount will secure ‘the necessary clearances quickly and efficiently’ because, in its estimation, the acquisition does not “raise any competition concerns,’” the senators wrote. “However, we can assure you that it raises significant competition concerns that the Senate has not had an opportunity to examine. The pattern of evasion, combined with Paramount’s apparent confidence that a politically sensitive transaction will clear without difficulty, warrants serious scrutiny.”
The senators asked Ellison to acknowledge receipt of the letter and answer a list of questions “probing reported allegations that he used personal relationships behind the scenes to improperly influence approval of the merger” by Feb. 26.
The senators directed Paramount to preserve the following documents:
- All communications, information, and documents related to Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and the DOJ’s Second Request for Information, including communications with President Donald Trump, members of his family, or individuals associated or affiliated with President Trump; Administration officials, including White House and DOJ political appointees; and DOJ Antitrust Division officials.
- All communications, information, and documents related to lobbyists or other intermediaries retained to represent Paramount or who otherwise advocated on behalf of Paramount in connection with the proposed transaction, including any currently or formerly affiliated with the Trump Administration or any business associated with President Trump or members of his family.
- All communications, information, and documents related to donations and other contributions made, directly or indirectly, to President Trump, his causes or interests, including through political action committees and other outside organizations.
- All communications, information, documents, and any other records related to news and content decisions at CBS that reflect real or perceived influence by any member of the Trump Administration or any of the lobbyists or other agents involved with the proposed transaction, including any records that reflect concern or awareness of how those decisions might be perceived by any member of the Trump Administration
Here are some of the questions the senator asked Ellison to provide written answers to:
- Has your father, Larry Ellison, communicated with President Trump or any Administration official regarding the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including any discussions about the benefits of a Paramount-Skydance acquisition? To the best of your knowledge, please describe the individuals involved, and the nature, date, and substance of any such communications.
- Did you, or anyone acting on your behalf or on behalf of Paramount, ever suggest, communicate, or offer assurances to President Trump, or anyone acting on his behalf, that Paramount would make changes to CNN in connection with or in exchange for favorable treatment of the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery? Please describe the individuals involved, and the nature, date, and substance of any such communications.
- Did you, or anyone acting on your behalf or on behalf of Paramount, ever communicate with President Trump or any Administration official about Paramount’s $16 million settlement of a lawsuit related to a “60 Minutes” interview of then-Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, in connection with discussions about the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery?
- Please provide the dates on which you, or anyone acting on your behalf or on behalf of Paramount, visited the White House to meet with President Trump or members of his Administration, and the purpose of each visit.
- Did you, or anyone acting on your behalf or on behalf of Paramount, have advance knowledge of or communications with Administration officials regarding the termination of Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Gail Slater, prior to the public announcement on February 12, 2026?
- Have you, or anyone acting on your behalf or on behalf of Paramount, made donations or other contributions, directly or indirectly, to President Trump, his causes or interests, including through political action committees or other outside organizations? For each contribution, please identify the recipient, amount, date, and manner in which it was made.
- Have any lobbyists or other intermediaries retained to represent Paramount, or who otherwise advocated on Paramount’s behalf, communicated with Department of Justice officials to request, encourage, or advance an investigation of Netflix unrelated to the Warner Bros. Discovery transaction? For any such communication, please describe the individuals involved, and the nature, date, and substance of any such communications.