Latest news with #TomRothman
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge Rejects Corporation For Public Broadcasting's Motion To Block Donald Trump From Removing Board Members
A federal judge on Sunday declined to issue an order to prohibit Donald Trump from removing three board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as the administration seeks to zero out funding for public media stations, PBS and NPR. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss wrote that the CPB had failed to meet the threshold to issue a preliminary injunction to halt Trump's effort to remove Sony's Tom Rothman, as well as Laura Ross and Diane Kaplan. More from Deadline ABC News Suspends Terry Moran Over X Post That Called Trump Official Stephen Miller A "World-Class Hater" '60 Minutes' Correspondent Scott Pelley Says Trump Lawsuit Settlement & Apology Would Be "Very Damaging" To Reputation Of CBS And Paramount Trump Deploys 2,000 Troops To L.A. As Backlash & Protests To ICE Raids Surge; POTUS Action "Purposefully Inflammatory," Newsom Warns But Moss' ruling does not mean that Trump will be able to wrest control of the board. The judge also cautioned that Trump could not unilaterally appoint their replacements, and noted that the corporation had recently changed its bylaws that restricts the president's actions. Moss wrote, 'Although the case presents important questions regarding the status of the Corporation and its relationship with the federal government, the Court must leave those questions for another day. For present purposes and on the present record, it is enough to conclude that Plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating that they are likely to prevail on the merits of their claim for injunctive relief or that Plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief.' Read the judge's public broadcasting decision. The CPB is the nonprofit corporation set up by Congress to distribute funds to public media, largely radio and TV stations. The CPB sued the Trump administration in April, after three board members got notices that they were being removed. The CPB cited the Public Broadcasting Act, which forbids 'any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States' from exercising 'any direction, supervision, or control over . . . the Corporation.' PBS and NPR have filed their own lawsuits against the Trump administration over the president's executive order to restrict further funding for their networks. Rothman, Ross and Kaplan were among the five current board members of the CPB. There are four vacancies. The board members are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. Moss, an appointee of President Barack Obama, wrote that one of the arguments presented by CPB lawyers was 'novel,' that removal of a board member also required Senate approval. CPB attorneys also argued that the president was an 'officer' of the United States, and therefore was restricted from exercising control over the corporation. Moss write that he need not resolve that question here. For present purposes, the Court can assume (as seems likely) that Congress intended to preclude the President (or any subordinate officials acting at his direction) from directing, supervising, or controlling the Corporation. But Congress did provide the President with appointment power, and that authority carries with it at least some ability to influence the affairs of the Corporation.' The judge cautioned that Trump cannot just install replacement board members. He wrote that 'the President is not free to remove directors and then unilaterally to appoint their replacements, thereby using his power to remove as an effective tool for altering Board policy. Rather, the President's appointment authority is tempered by the requirement that he proceed only with the advice and consent of the Senate.' He added, It is unlikely, moreover, 'that the President can shortcut this process by filling vacancies on an interim basis. To start, if the Corporation is private entity, as Plaintiffs posit, the directors are not 'officers' of the United States, and it is thus doubtful that the President could fill a vacancy in any manner other than that prescribed in the statute, in the D.C. Nonprofit Corporation Act, or in the Corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws. The PBA is consistent with that premise and provides that '[a]ny vacancy in the Board . . . shall be filled in the manner consistent with' the Act.' After a court hearing in the case last month, the CPB board changed its bylaws to try to put further safeguards on its independence. The new bylaws read, 'No Director may be removed from the Board by any person or authority, including the President of the United States, without a two-thirds vote of the other Directors confirming such removal. In the event the Corporation's President appoints one or more members of the Designated Body, such members may not be removed from the Designated Body by any person or authority, including the President of the United States, without a two-thirds vote of the other Directors and serving members of the Designated Body confirming such removal.' Perhaps more urgent for public media advocates is a pending congressional vote on whether the $535 million in annual federal funding to public broadcasting should be clawed back. The White House last week sent a package to Capitol Hill to rescind the funding for CPB in fiscal year 2026 and 2027. The corporation gets an advanced appropriation from Congress, so the money for those years already was allocated. More to come. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Sony Pictures extends Rothman's contract as CEO of its motion picture group
May 9 (Reuters) - Sony Pictures (6758.T), opens new tab said on Friday it had entered into a multi-year contract extension with its motion picture group's chairman and CEO, Tom Rothman. Rothman joined the studio in 2013 as chairman of TriStar Pictures, before being named chairman of the motion picture group in February 2015. His contract was extended in 2021, with the CEO role being added to his chairman title. The studio, known for box office hits such as "Spider-Man: No Way Home", "Jumanji" and the "Ghostbusters" series, said in March that its big-screen story about The Beatles will be told through four films to be released in April 2028, each presenting the perspective of one member of the Fab Four.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sony Pictures extends Rothman's contract as CEO of its motion picture group
(Reuters) - Sony Pictures said on Friday it had entered into a multi-year contract extension with its motion picture group's chairman and CEO, Tom Rothman. Rothman joined the studio in 2013 as chairman of TriStar Pictures, before being named chairman of the motion picture group in February 2015. His contract was extended in 2021, with the CEO role being added to his chairman title. The studio, known for box office hits such as "Spider-Man: No Way Home", "Jumanji" and the "Ghostbusters" series, said in March that its big-screen story about The Beatles will be told through four films to be released in April 2028, each presenting the perspective of one member of the Fab Four. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Rothman's Firing From Corporation for Public Broadcasting Sparks Lawsuit
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has sued the government, accusing the Trump administration of illegally trying to fire three members of the company's board, including top Hollywood studio chief Tom Rothman. The nonprofit corporation, in a lawsuit filed in federal court in D.C., alleges that the president doesn't have the authority to terminate board members since it's not a federal agency subject to the executive branch's control. More from The Hollywood Reporter Canada Election: Mark Carney's Liberals Projected to Win as Donald Trump Weighs Down Conservatives Has '60 Minutes' Run Out of Time? Shari Redstone's Big Decision '60 Minutes' Addresses EP Bill Owens' Departure in On-Air Segment: "Paramount Began to Supervise Our Content in New Ways" The White House on Monday emailed Rothman, Diane Kaplan and Laura Ross, notifying them of the firings, according to the complaint. 'On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is terminated effective immediately,' the message reads. The lawsuit seeks to block the terminations and asks for a court order barring the government from taking further action that would interfere with company operations. The Trump administration's firings are the latest turn in its campaign against the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which spends more than $500 million annually promoting organizations like NPR, PBS and other public broadcasters. Republicans have introduced legislation to eliminate taxpayer funding of media, with the White House angling to claw back north of $1 billion slated for public broadcasting in a move that would effectively eliminate all government support for such media organizations. At a congressional hearing last month, PBS and NPR denied accusations of liberal bias. The lawsuit argues that Congress intended for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to be a private corporation immunized from the president's control. It points to language in legislation that created the group that directors are only forced to forfeit their positions if they attend fewer than half of all board meetings in a year. 'The Act and the legislative history makes it clear that CPB was created in this way, precisely to prevent governmental control or influence over its operations,' states the group's bid for a temporary restraining order. Board members are appointed by the president to six year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The three directors who the Trump administration tried to fire were all tapped by Joe Biden. If the terminations are allowed to stand, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it'll be harmed by the loss of public trust and the 'possible destruction of the CPB itself.' It claims violations of the Administrative Procedures Act, which governs the way in which agencies operate, and the Presentment, Appropriations and Take Clare Clauses for what it considers overreach by the executive branch to circumvent laws passed by Congress, among another claim that covers the separation of powers. The court scheduled a hearing in the case for this afternoon. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Fired public television officials sue Trump administration to block terminations
Breaking down how Trump changed for his second term in the White House Three officials have been terminated from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit that oversees the funding for public television and radio, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration. Three members of the group's Board of Directors, Tom Rothman, Diane Kaplan and Laura Ross, said in a court filing that President Trump doesn't have the authority to fire them. "Indeed, under the Act, Congress made it clear that it the CPB is a private corporation, over whom the President has no authority save the ability to nominate members of the Board of Directors, with the advice and consent of the Senate," lawyers for the trio wrote in the court filing. The three ousted officials are seeking to block the terminations. According to the court documents, the three board members received an email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of White House personnel, that notified the board members that their positions were terminated. The correspondence said in full, "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service." There was no further reason given for the terminations. In a statement, White House spokesman Taylor Rogers said that the "courts have affirmed" that "the Constitution gives President Trump the power to remove personnel who exercise his executive authority. The Trump Administration looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue." The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was formed in 1967, is a private corporation that helps support and steward hundreds of public media organizations, including radio and TV stations. In March, Mr. Trump said he "would love to" cut funding to NPR and PBS, the two highest-profile public media organizations. Much of the public money for NPR and PBS flows through the Corporation. In their legal filing, the three ousted officials argue the Trump administration risks incurring damage of the organization by alleged overreach. "These harms include the frustration of CPB's mission and statutory obligations, ultra vires actions taken by unlawfully installed officials, the exposure of attorney-client privileged documents and sensitive operational and personal information, the permanent destruction of documents and other real property, the loss of goodwill and public trust, chilled speech, and possible destruction of the CPB itself," their lawyers said in the filing. Rothman is a former Sony executive and Kaplan is a former Alaska public radio official. All three were all appointed in 2022 by President Biden.
