• by Wayne Friedman , September 20, 2007

Ex-CBS news anchor Dan Rather has filed a $70 million lawsuit against the network in New York. The case stems from what became CBS' infamous President Bush story in 2004, which focused on his days in the National Guard during the Vietnam War era.

Rather claims his reputation was sullied on two fronts. First, because of the way CBS handled the aftermath of the controversial story and second, that the network violated his contract.

The veteran anchor says CBS gave him less air-time on "60 Minutes" after forcing him to step down as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" in March 2005.

The suit was filed against the network, its corporate parent Viacom Inc., and three of his former bosses: CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves, Viacom executive chairman, Sumner Redstone; and Andrew Heyward, the former president of CBS News.

A CBS spokesman, in press reports, said the Rather lawsuit is without merit.

Dan Rather is currently the anchor and managing editor of the weekly "Dan Rather Reports" on HDNet.