Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids on several restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area. One of the targeted establishments was Chef Geoff’s, owned by Geoff Tracy, the husband of former “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell. The raid occurred on May 6, 2025, while the restaurant was open, with ICE agents reportedly requesting work authorization documents from employees. No arrests were made immediately following the raid.
This event unfolds against the backdrop of a significant $20 billion lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against CBS News. Trump alleges that an interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris was manipulated to portray her in a more positive light. While there's no public evidence linking the raid to O’Donnell’s employment with CBS, the timing is noteworthy. Neither ICE, the White House, Tracy, nor his restaurant have commented publicly on the matter.
The Trump lawsuit stems from a pre-2024 election interview with Harris. CBS aired different portions of the same response from Harris across various broadcasts, leading Trump to claim that this editing influenced the election outcome. Legal experts widely view the lawsuit as lacking merit and the damages sought as excessive. CBS has released the raw footage and transcript of the interview, complying with an FCC request in 2025. The FCC continues its investigation into CBS News for alleged “news distortion.”
This controversy adds another layer of complexity to Paramount Global’s planned merger with Skydance Media, which requires federal approval. Reports suggest Trump’s ongoing feud with CBS News could jeopardize the deal. Adding to the internal pressures at CBS, Bill Owens, the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” resigned in April 2024, urging his staff to resist governmental pressure in a farewell message.