'Scapegoat' Rather sues CBS for $70 million

September 20, 2007 Rather, whose decades-long career at CBS came to an inglorious halt over his role in a report criticizing President Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service, on Wednesday sued CBS, Viacom, its chairman Sumner Redstone, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and former CBS News president Andrew Heyward. The suit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, argues that CBS violated Rather's contract by giving him insufficient airtime on "60 Minutes" after summarily dismissing him as anchor of "CBS Evening News" in March 2005. The suit claims that Rather was made a scapegoat by CBS and Viacom for business interests after the September 2004 airing of the controversial "60 Minutes II" report on President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.