California AG calls off Paramount settlement talks, accuses company of ‘playing games’ | CNN Business

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has canceled a meeting that was scheduled for Monday over Paramount’s planned $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. The parties were due to discuss a potential settlement of the lawsuit that has frozen the media mega-merger in place. But Bonta called off the meeting after the Wall Street Journal reported that lawyers for both sides held a prep session on Friday and discussed what the states might want from Paramount. “Paramount did not maintain the confidentiality of that meeting,” Bonta said in a statement late Sunday night. “Not only did Paramount leak the alleged substance of settlement discussions, but they misrepresented these discussions, demonstrating a lack of good faith,” Bonta said. “As soon as Paramount stops playing games and engages sincerely, my office is happy to meet again,” he added. The New York Times was first to report on Bonta’s decision. Paramount responded Monday by saying, “We share AG Bonta’s concerns about the public discussions and misreporting that has surrounded this deal. As we have assured the Attorney General’s office, Paramount has not been the source of t