Scott Pelley, the veteran 60 Minutes correspondent, has been fired by CBS News after clashing with the network’s new management. In a public statement, Pelley accused executives of instructing him to inject falsehoods and bias into his reporting and of giving politicians control over interview assignments.
Pelley, who had been with CBS for 37 years, said the network’s new owner was casting aside the programme’s legacy to curry favour with the Trump administration. He claimed that senior leadership and two on-air correspondents had been fired without cause last month, silencing those who stood for fairness and professionalism.
According to Pelley, he was told to include unverified assertions in a politically sensitive story, which he refused. He also alleged that politicians were invited to choose correspondents for interviews, a practice he called unprecedented. CBS News did not respond to requests for comment.
Bari Weiss, a CBS News executive, addressed Pelley’s termination on a staff call, saying the network had attempted to find a way back but was unable to do so. Pelley later disputed this, stating that no resolution was offered during the meeting in which he was effectively fired.
Pelley’s dismissal follows a series of high-profile departures at CBS News, including the executive producer and executive editor, who were let go without explanation. The turmoil has raised concerns about the direction of the network under its new leadership.
