Key facts
- CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss defended Scott Pelley's termination.
- Pelley's contract was terminated for cause due to 'antipathy to the future of the show' and 'misconduct'.
- Trust was broken following Pelley's confrontation with the executive producer.
- Pelley had been with CBS News for over 37 years.
- The future of '60 Minutes' and veteran correspondents Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker is uncertain.
Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, addressed the termination of Scott Pelley from '60 Minutes' during a staff call. Weiss stated that trust was 'broken' following Pelley's confrontation with the newsmagazine's new executive producer, asserting that 'that's the path he chose.' Pelley's contract was terminated for cause, with reasons cited as his 'antipathy to the future of the show' and 'misconduct.' Pelley, who had been with CBS News for over 37 years, reportedly criticized changes at the network and '60 Minutes,' clashing with leadership. He had accused Weiss of 'murdering' the program and questioned editorial decisions. The termination follows other departures from '60 Minutes' amid broader changes at CBS News aimed at adapting for the digital era. The future of '60 Minutes' is now uncertain, with questions arising about whether veteran correspondents Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker will remain with the division. President Trump also commented on Pelley's firing, calling him 'terrible' and a 'stiff' in a podcast interview released after the termination.