CBS Prepares to Seek Donald Trump’s Financial Records in $20 Billion Lawsuit

CBS’ legal team has revealed plans to request former President Donald Trump’s personal financial information if his $20 billion lawsuit against the network moves forward to the discovery phase. The legal team made this disclosure in a court filing this week, outlining the scope of documents they intend to seek.

In the filing submitted to a Texas federal court on Tuesday, CBS’ attorneys stated that they would also pursue financial records related to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, the Trump Media & Technology Group, Truth Social, and the $TRUMP meme cryptocurrency project. “Defendants further anticipate that discovery will be needed into President Trump’s legal relationship, if any, with the Donald J. Trump for President 2024 campaign and the Trump Media & Technology Group,” the filing noted.

Typically, financial records are sought in litigation to assess a plaintiff’s claim for damages. In this case, Trump’s $20 billion demand far exceeds the estimated value of CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, which has also been named as a defendant in the case.

Trump filed the lawsuit in October 2024, targeting CBS and Paramount Global following an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris aired on 60 Minutes. He alleged that the network violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by deceptively editing the interview to benefit Harris’ electoral prospects. His complaint cited a Face the Nation promo for the 60 Minutes broadcast, in which Harris’ response to a question differed from what was shown in the full interview aired on October 7.

The legal battle between Trump and CBS is expected to intensify, with both sides preparing for a high-stakes discovery process. If the case proceeds, it could lead to an unprecedented examination of Trump’s financial dealings, potentially impacting his ongoing presidential campaign.