Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather is suing the network for $70m.

Rather's career at CBS came to an end after he narrated a 60 Minutes Wednesday documentary on September 8, 2004 that raised questions regarding President Bush's service record from the Texas Air National Guard. The documentary relied on documents of questionable provenance and Rather presented the news of CBS's decision to retract the story on September 20. An independent investigation carried out at the request of CBS resulted in the firing of one producer and the effective termination of three others. Rather then stepped down as anchor of the Evening News in March 2005, one year earlier than his expected departure; and on June 20, 2006, Rather left the network after his contract was not renewed.

Rather's lawsuit, which has been filed with the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, alleges several counts of wrongdoing on the part of CBS. Rather claims that the network is in breach of contract because he did not get enough airtime on 60 Minutes after leaving the Evening News anchor chair; further, he alleges that CBS committed fraud by commissioning a "biased" investigation into the 60 Minutes Wednesday story of September 8. He claims that the network "seriously damaged his reputation" in an attempt to make him "a scapegoat" in order "to pacify the White House". CBS CEO Les Moonves, former CBS News president Andrew Heyward and Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone are all named in the suit.

Rather is seeking $20m in compensatory damages and $50m in punitive damages.