WASHINGTON, December 24, 2023 — A “60 Minutes” report on deportations under the previous administration, initially shelved weeks ago, aired Sunday, revealing a behind-the-scenes battle over editorial control and accusations of political interference. The segment focused on individuals deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, a facility known for its brutal conditions, and sparked controversy when it was abruptly pulled from the December 21 broadcast.
Internal Dispute Erupts Over Content and Influence
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The airing of the report follows an internal clash at the network, raising questions about the independence of news coverage.
What is CECOT prison? CECOT is El Salvador’s largest prison, built to house gang members, and has been widely criticized for its inhumane conditions and overcrowding.
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi did not publicly address her disagreement with the network’s editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, during the broadcast. However, Alfonsi reportedly told colleagues that the decision to remove the segment was “not an editorial decision, it was a political one.” Weiss had expressed concerns that the story didn’t adequately represent the administration’s perspective or build upon existing reporting.
The aired version of the report did not include on-camera interviews with Trump administration officials, but it did feature statements from the White House and Department of Homeland Security—some of which predated the initial December 21 removal. Alfonsi stated that “Since November, ‘60 Minutes’ has made several attempts to interview key Trump administration officials on camera about our story. They declined our requests.”
CBS Maintains Commitment to Airing the Report
CBS News issued a statement asserting its “leadership has always been committed to airing the ‘60 Minutes’ CECOT piece as soon as it was ready. Tonight, viewers get to see it, along with other important stories, all of which speak to CBS News’ independence and the power of our storytelling.” The CECOT report was the second of three segments on Sunday’s broadcast, following Cecilia Vega’s report from Minneapolis on ICE enforcement and related protests.
The initial decision to pull Alfonsi’s report ignited criticism, with some arguing that Weiss’s appointment—she previously founded the Free Press website and had no prior television news experience—signaled an attempt by network leadership to align with the previous administration.
Prior to its official airing, a version of Alfonsi’s original story inadvertently became available online. CBS News had provided a copy of the newsmagazine to Global Television, a Canadian network that broadcasts “60 Minutes,” which posted it on its website before the segment was removed from the U.S. broadcast schedule. This allowed viewers to compare the initial version with the final product.
The core content of the story remained consistent, including a clip of President Donald Trump stating that prison operators “don’t play games,” and a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt describing those deported as “heinous monsters, rapists, murderers, sexual assaulters, predators who have no right to be in this country.”
Alfonsi updated the introduction to reference the January 3 U.S. raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is currently in U.S. custody. She also added the administration’s comments to the end of the story, including their explanation for not providing detailed records regarding the migrants sent to El Salvador. The administration also shared photos of tattoos worn by the two migrants Alfonsi interviewed, including a swastika, which one interviewee claimed he received as a teenager without understanding its meaning.
Evolving Relationship Between CBS and the Administration
Since Weiss’s arrival, Trump administration officials have appeared more frequently on CBS News, sometimes in interviews facilitated by Weiss. The president himself was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell on “60 Minutes” on November 2.
The New York Times reported Saturday that after a recent interview with new “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, Leavitt warned the network that “we’ll sue your ass off” if the full exchange wasn’t aired. The entire 13-minute interview was broadcast Tuesday, an unusual move for a network evening newscast. CBS told The Times that the decision to air the interview unedited was made at the time it was booked.
Trump has previously objected to the editing of his interviews, notably releasing an unedited transcript of a “60 Minutes” interview conducted by Lesley Stahl in 2020.
- The “60 Minutes” report on deportations to El Salvador was initially pulled from the broadcast schedule but aired Sunday.
- The decision to remove the segment sparked an internal dispute over editorial control and accusations of political pressure.
- CBS News maintains its commitment to independent journalism, while the administration has sought greater control over its portrayal in the media.
