Rather Sues CBS for $70M

Dan Rather has filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS and its corporate parent, claiming bias and fraud in the investigation of the broadcast that brought him down—and then violated his subsequent contract with “60 Minutes.” The filing says Rather was made “a scapegoat” in order “to pacify the White House,” the Times reports.

The suit portrays the former anchor as a docile narrator—and not the author—of the discredited report claiming President Bush was treated preferentially by the National Guard. It also contends he was pressured to read a public apology—again, not written by him. As to the “60 Minutes” claims, Rather’s case hinges on the meanings of “full-time” and “regular”: The old TV lion says other correspondents got twice the work he did. (More CBS stories.)