CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and “60 Minutes” executive Nick Bilton were not informed about a deported migrant’s assertion of being gay in immigration documents before a contentious segment aired on the show last Sunday, according to sources. They were reportedly upset upon discovering this information through a late Sunday post from the Department of Homeland Security, which indicated that the producers of “60 Minutes” had overlooked the fact that Moussa Diawara seemed to claim his sexuality to gain asylum in the United States.
Instead, during last week’s broadcast, it was conveyed that in 2012, a U.S. judge had decided that Diawara could not be deported to Mali, a predominantly Muslim nation, because he had “converted to Christianity” eight months prior.
A source within CBS hinted that the decision to leave out the claim about Diawara’s sexuality was made to “protect him.” Another insider mentioned that producer Andy Court had struck a deal with Diawara’s lawyer to keep this detail under wraps, without informing Bilton or other senior staff at the network.
Feedback from the segment prompted Bilton to hold a tense meeting with Toboni and Court later that week. Reports suggest that the network may consider disciplinary measures against Court, who has been with CBS for 28 years and has received multiple producing awards.
Emails from the DHS, obtained by The Post, reveal that they had informed CBS employees involved in the segment more than two weeks prior to its airing that Diawara, who has a wife and two children, had curiously claimed he would face persecution for being gay if returned to Mali.
While DHS did not specify that Diawara was committing fraud in their communication, it was suggested that the omission of his sexuality was made with consideration for his safety. Nonetheless, it remains unclear why the segment wasn’t postponed or canceled entirely. One source proposed that Bilton was under significant pressure to produce content and had no alternative segments ready. However, another source refuted this, claiming there were plenty of stories available for air.
It’s been hinted that the segment, which included an interview with Diawara in an undisclosed African country, might have been costly to produce, making a reshoot unfeasible. Although it seems Bilton would have preferred to include the DHS information if he had known about it.
Neither Court, Bilton, nor Weiss provided comment, and CBS News chose to remain silent on the issue.
Ben Bogardus, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University, expressed disappointment in the situation, characterizing it as a “self-inflicted wound” at a time when public trust in journalism is fragile. He emphasized that including such information should have been a priority, as it was a significant aspect of the story.
Other sources suggested that the entire incident stemmed from a lack of experience. It remains uncertain whether there will be repercussions from this misstep or if “60 Minutes” will opt to revise the story in an upcoming episode.
Weiss, who previously asked critics to evaluate the network based on its reporting, is acutely aware of the backlash. Following the broadcast, the Trump administration criticized “60 Minutes” for omitting a central reason for Diawara’s deportation after over a decade of overstaying a tourist visa and claiming refugee status that should have prevented his return to Mali.
DHS’s General Counsel, James Percival, shared in a post that he reviewed Diawara’s immigration file, revealing that one of his claimed reasons for fearing return to Mali was his assertion of being gay.
According to a CBS source, the heightened response from the DHS was sparked by the way “60 Minutes” presented facts surrounding deportations to third countries, raising concerns among immigration officials regarding cases previously deemed off-limits.
On his asylum application, Diawara expressed gratitude for the freedom to express his feelings while in the U.S., mentioning how he felt different growing up. He had fled Mali to another African country and later alleged that local authorities had forcefully sent him back shortly after his arrival in Ghana.
Now living in an undisclosed location, the whole scenario has left industry insiders feeling embarrassed, suggesting it provides further fuel for those who believe “60 Minutes” operates with bias.
