the “60 Minutes” story on the El Salvador prison that sparked controversy for CBS News Editor in Chief bari weiss aired Sunday.
The segment, “Inside CECOT,” detailed the Trump administration’s deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to an El Salvador prison known for its harsh conditions. Originally scheduled for December 21st, the story was pulled the day before air by Weiss, who requested additional reporting and a stronger response from the White House.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the “60 Minutes” correspondent who spent months on the piece, objected to Weiss’s decision, calling it politically motivated in an email to colleagues.
Weiss’s appointment in October by Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison is widely viewed by CBS News insiders as an attempt to appease the trump administration. The network seeks a streamlined regulatory process as it pursues the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.Pulling a “60 Minutes” segment critical of the administration after promotion only reinforced this perception.
CBS News stated the story would eventually air.
“CBS News leadership has always been committed to airing the 60 MINUTES CECOT piece as soon as it was ready,” the network saeid in a statement.
