President Trump’s $20 billion defamation lawsuit against CBS News and 60 Minutes appears to have claimed its first scalp on Tuesday, with executive producer Bill Owens announcing his departure from the company to staff via memo to staff. The news outlet has been under pressure from its parent company Paramount Global to settle the election-related suit.
“The fact is that 60 Minutes has been my life,” Owens opined. “My 60 Minutes priorities have always been clear. Maybe not smart, but clear.”
Hinting at pressure from above, Owens huffed that it appeared as though he would not be allowed to run 60 Minutes under their typical business-as-usual approach:
Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience. So, having defended this show- and what we stand for – from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.
Things took a pivot to grandiose and self-righteous as Owens crowed about how, “The show is too important to the country, it has to continue, just not with me as the Executive Producer.”
Adding: “60 Minutes will continue to cover the new administration, as we will report on future administrations. We will report from War zones, investigate injustices and educate our audience. In short, 60 Minutes will do what it has done for 57 years.”
It became more obvious that the pressure on Owens extended from outside CBS News directly because he praised the network’s president and CEO. “Wendy McMahon has always had our back, and she agrees that 60 Minutes needs to be run by a 60 Minute producer,” he touted.
In her letter to staff, McMahon commended Owens for how he steered the 60 Minutes ship:
After 37 years, Bill Owens is ending his illustrious career at CBS News, 25 of those years at America’s most important news program, 60 Minutes. His note to the team is below.
As Executive Producer, Bill has led 60 Minutes with unwavering integrity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to the truth. He has championed the kind of journalism that informs, enlightens, and often changes the national conversation. His dedication to finding and nurturing talent will be felt across CBS News for years.
60 Minutes came under pressure following the election-related defamation against the network. Trump accused the network of “deceitful editing” of their interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that it was done to help her campaign by making her look better.
NewsBusters later confirmed that the portion of the interview in question was highly edited, after the Federal Communications Commission published the unedited footage themselves. CBS News refused to share the unedited video with the public.
“Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response,” CBS argued in their defense. Adding: “When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate and on point. The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
CBS's parent company Paramount Global was pushing for a settlement with Trump since the administration had to sign off on their merger with Skydance.
