Former “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft blasted CBS News over its agreement to pay President Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit the president brought against the network last year.
“I think there’s a lot of fear over there. Fear of losing their job, fear of what’s happening to the country, fear of losing the First Amendment, all of those things,” Kroft said during an appearance on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
“Yeah, it was a shakedown. That’s what I call it. I mean, some people call it extortion. That’s a legal term,” the longtime journalist said.
Kroft’s comments to Stewart were first highlighted by Mediaite.
Paramount, CBS’s parent company, agreed to the settlement last week as it works to secure a megamerger with fellow entertainment giant Skydance.
Trump sued the network last year over the way it edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The $16 million was tribute,” Kroft said. “That’s how he looks at it, tribute to the king.”
