CBS News Delays 60 Minutes Investigation Into El Salvador's Cecot Megaprison
CBS News has delayed the 60 Minutes episode titled "Inside Cecot," an investigation into the Cecot megaprison in El Salvador, Latin America's largest prison with capacity for about 40,000 inmates. The episode was originally scheduled to air on Sunday night but will now be broadcast at a future date.
The segment features recently released deportees describing brutal and torturous conditions at Cecot. In March, the Trump administration arranged to deport more than 250 Venezuelan migrants to the prison on charges related to terrorism and gang membership. A page for the episode with a trailer had previously existed on CBS’s platform but now shows it cannot be found, while Paramount Plus had listed a 7:30 pm ET air time.
CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and others strongly criticized the cancellation, asserting that the segment had been screened five times and cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. Alfonsi argued that the delay was politically motivated. Brian Stelter reported internal threats to quit at 60 Minutes over the decision, highlighting tensions within the newsroom.
A CBS News spokesperson said additional reporting was necessary before airing the segment. The network updated its lineup through an editors note on X. Bari Weiss, appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News in October after Paramount acquired the Free Press, stated that the newsroom aims to publish the best possible stories and air them when ready. Weiss noted that the network intends to air "Inside Cecot" once it meets these standards.
The delay drew social media backlash from figures including Don Winslow and Krystal Ball, who accused CBS of censorship and political interference.
