CBS News Pulls 60 Minutes Episode on El Salvador Prison Amid Controversy
Bari Weiss defended CBS News's decision to pull a 60 Minutes episode about allegations surrounding a notorious El Salvador prison, emphasizing that the network prioritized comprehensive and fair coverage. Weiss stated the goal was to inform the public and get the story right, rather than to pursue political points.
The decision to halt the episode led to internal and external outrage, with some critics alleging censorship. CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi characterized the decision as political in a private email that later became public. Alfonsi noted that the episode had been screened five times and cleared by CBS attorneys and the standards and practices department. CBS had also requested comments from the White House, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security, none of which participated.
After being pulled from CBS, the episode later appeared online on a streaming platform owned by Global TV, following involvement concerning the rights to 60 Minutes in Canada.
This situation occurs amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and 60 Minutes, including previous interview refusals by Trump, a lawsuit over coverage, and a $16 million settlement paid to Trump by Paramount.
