Iowa and Montana attorneys general ask SCOTUS to block Paramount-WBD antitrust lawsuit

(KYMA) - Two Republican attorneys general filed a motion with the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) regarding an antitrust lawsuit blocking Paramount Skydance's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

In a court document filed Tuesday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Montana Attorney Austin Knudsen is asking SCOTUS to stop the antitrust lawsuit, claiming it's a "politicized enforcement action."

"This case is about the legal limits on politicized antitrust enforcement by a small handful of states seeking to enjoin a $110 billion merger that the United States, most American states, and competition regulators worldwide have cleared," Attorneys General Bird and Knudsen wrote in the complaint.

Last month, 12 state attorneys general, including Arizona and California, and the Writers Guild of America sued to block the merger between Paramount and WBD.

As a result of the lawsuits, Paramount announced they were delaying the merger, with Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin setting a trial date for March of next year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and other countries approved the merger.

Last week, Paramount requested a $1.88 billion bond from the 12 states to cover their losses over the merger's delay, with Judge Martinez-Olguin setting a hearing on the request for September 24.

In addition, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount "to come to the table" and reach a settlement.

Attorney General Bonta canceled a meeting with Paramount, scheduled for Monday, accusing them of leaking information from an earlier meeting.

A Paramount spokesperson responded saying the company was not the source of the leaks, and said they hope the talks can get back on track.