California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Tuesday that he is open to reengaging with Paramount over settlement talks, provided the company is able to “put a lid on their lying leaks.”
Bonta initially agreed to meet Monday at Paramount’s request, as the company seeks to resolve the 12-state antitrust case that has blocked it from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. But Bonta canceled the meeting late Sunday night, after news reports emerged about the meeting.
As of Tuesday morning, Bonta said, “we don’t have anything scheduled.”
“If they are willing to clean things up, put a lid on their lying leaks, and engage in a way that is sincere and in good faith, we will be… happy to meet,” he said. “But they need to take care of the problems and the leaks that they have on their team.” Bonta spoke Tuesday after a press conference about fentanyl and gun seizures at the attorney general’s office in downtown Los Angeles.
Paramount has denied that it was the source of the leaks. A company spokesperson said that “we remain hopeful and stand ready to continue good-faith discussions to resolve the Attorney Generals’ suit inclusive of structural remedies to move forward with our transaction.” (Paramount has not explained what “structural remedies” it is open to discussing.) In addition, Paramount has pledged to continue to make at least 30 films a year for the next three years, but Bonta has dismissed such “behavioral” commitments as unenforceable.
