Scott Pelley, the veteran broadcaster recently dismissed from 60 Minutes, has accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of interfering with a broadcast segment on the killing of Minneapolis protester Renee Good by an immigration officer. In an interview with the New York Times, Pelley claimed Weiss sent an email to his supervisor requesting changes shortly before the segment aired, including suggestions to make protesters appear more violent and to describe Good's car as driving toward the officer.
Pelley asserted that the requested direction contradicted video evidence, which he said showed Good's wheels turned away from the officer. He characterised Weiss's intervention as injecting "falsehoods and bias" into programming. A CBS News spokesperson responded that Weiss's suggestions had "no political motivation" and were aimed at making the piece "as strong, fair, and accurate as possible," adding that not all her points were included.
Pelley's accusations come amid turmoil at the flagship news show, with executive producer Tanya Simon replaced and several staff departures over editorial independence concerns. New executive producer Nick Bilton has emphasised journalistic independence in a memo to staff. Pelley was fired after a heated meeting where he accused Weiss of "murdering" the show.
Pelley questioned Weiss's lack of television and large-scale management experience, calling it a "red flag." He also criticised Bilton's push to modernise the show, arguing it ignored existing changes. The dispute centres on the shooting of Good, with Pelley noting that the officer called her a "fucking bitch" on cellphone video. CBS News dismissed Pelley's claim that Weiss was favouring the Trump administration as having "no credible argument."
