Newsom denies pressuring CA AG over Paramount settlement amid liberal backlash

Gov. Gavin Newsom has denied pressuring California Attorney General Rob Bonta into settling his antitrust lawsuit with Paramount Skydance Corp. ahead of its proposed merger with ViacomCBS. The denial comes after liberal backlash over the potential influence on the settlement. Newsom stated that he had not pressured Bonta, but rather respected the AG's decision to allow the case to proceed. The California AG later disclosed that the settlement had already been reached before Newsom intervened.