Former "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley calls for CBS News editor Bari Weiss's removal
In his first interview after being dismissed from "60 Minutes," Scott Pelley accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of bias toward the Trump administration and of editorial missteps, urging her ouster.
Scott Pelley, who was recently dismissed from "60 Minutes," told New York Times host Lulu Garcia-Navarro that he believes CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss should be removed from her position. Pelley said he was concerned from the start of Weiss’s tenure because she lacked television experience and had not previously overseen a large global news operation.
He argued that Weiss’s attempts to modernize the program were superficial, describing the effort as "disingenuous" and suggesting that the leadership appeared out of touch with current digital trends.
Pelley also alleged that Weiss intervened in a segment about protests in Minneapolis, requesting changes that would portray protesters as more violent and describing a fatal shooting in a way that conflicted with video evidence. He said the suggested edits aligned with statements made by President Donald Trump.
A CBS News spokesperson responded that Weiss’s editorial comments were intended to strengthen the piece’s fairness and accuracy, and that there was no evidence of political motivation. The spokesperson also denied that Weiss had been "putting a thumb on the scale" for the administration.
Pelley emphasized that the incident highlighted broader concerns about competence, noting that the segment nearly missed its broadcast deadline on the night of the Grammys, which could have jeopardized the network’s schedule.
When asked directly whether Weiss should be removed, Pelley replied affirmatively, stating that television news management was not a suitable role for her.