Former “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley recently alleged that CBS News leadership is both politically biased and incompetent. This was his first interview after being dismissed from the network last week, following disagreements with the new management. Pelley, who had a lengthy 37-year career at CBS, stated that issues began after the network let go of several senior staff members at “60 Minutes” and appointed Nick Bilton as the new executive producer under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. In an emotional exchange, he accused Weiss of favoring President Trump, while also contesting claims that “60 Minutes” showed bias against conservative viewpoints.
David Bozell, the Director of the Media Research Center, expressed surprise at Pelley’s comments. He pointed out that people might perceive “60 Minutes” as biased due to past coverage, including when Leslie Stahl dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop saga or brushed off a response from Kamala Harris. Bozell suggested there’s been a double standard in coverage of Democrats versus Republicans over the years.
It’s not just Pellé’s firing that raises eyebrows—CBS has a history of controversial moments, long before Weiss’s leadership. For instance, a segment from 1995 involving tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand drew significant criticism and led to the film “The Insider.” Wigand exposed the industry’s knowledge of the addictive nature of its products, despite corporate denials. CBS delayed airing the segment, fearing a lawsuit over the network’s $5.4 billion merger with Westinghouse Electric Corp, illustrating the tension between corporate interests and journalistic integrity.
2004 and the Bush National Guard Controversy
Another stain on CBS’s reputation occurred in 2004, linked to a story about George W. Bush’s National Guard service that was based on documents lacking authentication. This was a pivotal moment in CBS anchor Dan Rather’s career—once hailed for his credibility, Rather’s legacy suffered irreparable damage after the scandal, which led to the firing of four senior staffers and significant public regrets voiced by CBS executives.
Retractions and Criticism
In 2013, “60 Minutes” faced more backlash over its coverage of the Benghazi attack. A report featuring claims from a former security official eventually retracted after it was revealed that the network did not consult available contradictory information beforehand. The internal fallout resulted in required leaves for individuals involved in the report.
Then there was the 2020 election and the Hunter Biden laptop saga, which featured a tense interaction between President Trump and correspondent Leslie Stahl. Trump claimed a scandal involving Hunter Biden while Stahl insisted the story was unverifiable at the time. CBS eventually acknowledged the laptop’s significance a few years later.
The Vaccine Distribution Controversy
In 2021, CBS was scrutinized for a “60 Minutes” segment with Sharyn Alfonsi, where she claimed Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis had given preferential treatment in vaccine distribution to Publix due to donations. This claim drew sharp criticism, even from Democrats, and was later found lacking in substance.
Editing Scandals
During the 2020 election, CBS also dealt with accusations of misediting a Kamala Harris interview. Critics argued that CBS altered her responses to protect her image, inciting Trump’s legal action against the network, which concluded with a substantial settlement favoring Trump.
In the wake of Pelley’s departure, CBS denied any allegations of bias favoring Trump, stating that claims regarding Weiss’s perceived favoritism were unfounded.
