Former CBS News employees are raising the alarm and demanding an independent investigation following the controversy surrounding the edited exchange aired on “60 Minutes.” The incident has ignited debate over journalistic ethics and credibility within the network.
CBS News found itself at the center of outrage after airing a heavily edited clip of Vice President Kamala Harris during Monday’s “60 Minutes” election special. This clip differed significantly from the preview of Harris’ full, unflattering exchange with veteran correspondent Bill Whitaker—an exchange that quickly drew criticism.
“I think there should be an outside investigation,” a former CBS News journalist told The New York Post. “Obviously, there’s a problem here. If they care about journalistic integrity, they would conduct an investigation or release the full transcript,” the ex-CBS journalist added.
A Call for Transparency
The disparity between the two versions of Harris’ interview—a lengthy, meandering response aired on Sunday’s “Face The Nation” and a more polished answer aired on Monday—has prompted calls for transparency. Former CBS staffers insist that an external probe is the only way to restore public trust.
“Their credibility has been called into question and their impartiality has been called into question,” a second source told The Post. “Don’t you need a full-throated review of what went wrong?”
CBS sources suggested the network bring back Al Ortiz, former standards and practices executive director, to conduct the review. Ortiz, who retired in 2012 after 43 years at CBS, could bring an impartial lens to the ongoing controversy.
Differing Versions of Harris’ Comments
The controversy erupted after Harris’ response to Whitaker about the Biden administration’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was edited for the primetime special. On Sunday’s “Face The Nation,” Harris had given a lengthy answer that was mocked by conservatives for being a “word salad” as she struggled to explain why Netanyahu appeared to ignore the U.S.
“Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region,” Harris said in the original version aired Sunday.
But Monday night’s “60 Minutes” showed a different answer altogether—one more succinct and focused on asserting U.S. priorities.
“We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris was shown saying instead.
Accusations of Bias and Election Interference
Critics argue CBS edited the clip to favor Harris, effectively “cleaning up” her remarks for a primetime audience. The result has been a flurry of accusations that CBS News is attempting to help the vice president’s image amid a challenging time for the administration.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in with fury, labeling CBS News’ actions an “unprecedented scandal” and calling for the network to lose its broadcasting license. “A giant Fake News Scam by CBS & 60 Minutes,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social. “Her REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY, OR DUMB, so they actually REPLACED it with another answer in order to save her or, at least, make her look better. A FAKE NEWS SCAM, which is totally illegal.”
“TAKE AWAY THE CBS LICENSE,” he continued. “Election Interference. She is a Moron, and the Fake News Media wants to hide that fact. An UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Dems got them to do this and should be forced to concede the Election? WOW!”
The Harris campaign, however, maintains that they had no involvement in the editing process. An aide told, “We do not control CBS’s production decisions and refer questions to CBS.”
Calls for Accountability
The former CBS staffers’ demand for an external investigation reflects deeper concerns about journalistic standards at the network. Given the major implications of the edit—which many perceive as election interference—calls for transparency and accountability continue to grow.
With CBS under the microscope, a meaningful, impartial review could be the only way forward for a network in desperate need of public trust.
