Scott Pelley, the veteran anchor who was recently fired from CBS's 60 Minutes, has accused the network's editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, of interfering with a segment about the fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester Renee Good by an immigration officer in January. Pelley claims Weiss requested changes that introduced falsehoods and bias into the report.
Pelley's Allegations
In an interview with the New York Times published on Sunday, the 68-year-old Pelley stated that Weiss sent an email to his supervisor shortly before the segment aired, asking for modifications. He paraphrased the email as saying, "Can we make the protesters look more violent?" and "You need to describe her as driving toward the officer." Pelley maintained that the video of the shooting did not support the latter claim.
CBS News Response
A CBS News spokesperson responded to Pelley's statements, asserting that Weiss's four points in the email exchange had "no political motivation and were proposed solely to make the piece as strong, fair, and accurate as possible." The spokesperson added that not all of her suggestions were included in the final piece.
Turmoil at 60 Minutes
Pelley's accusations come amid significant upheaval at the long-running news program. Executive producer Tanya Simon has been replaced, and several correspondents and producers have left due to concerns over editorial independence. However, veterans Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim are staying on. Newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton, a former Vanity Fair journalist and filmmaker, told staff in a memo that "the foundation of 60 Minutes is journalistic independence. We will always pursue stories without fear or favor."
Pelley's Criticism of Leadership
Pelley criticized Weiss's lack of television experience, calling it a "red flag." He also expressed concern that Bilton's mission to modernize the 58-year-old show ignored existing changes, stating, "It's almost as if Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton were sealed in a time capsule in 1990, and it just cracked open."
Details of the Minneapolis Segment
Pelley elaborated on the segment, explaining that video footage showed the officer standing slightly off the front of Good's car, with her wheels turned away from him. Despite this, Weiss allegedly wanted the narrative to describe Good as driving toward the officer, echoing comments made by then-President Donald Trump. Pelley also referenced cell phone video from the officer's perspective, which captured him using derogatory language toward Good.
Weiss's Alleged Bias
Pelley accused Weiss of "putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the [Trump] administration." CBS News countered that there was "no credible argument" to support such a claim.
Aftermath
Pelley's firing followed a heated meeting in which he accused Weiss of "murdering" the show. His latest statements underscore ongoing tensions at CBS News over editorial direction and journalistic integrity.
