’60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley warns a CBS settlement with Trump could be ‘very damaging’

“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley spoke out about President Donald Trump’s lawsuit towards CBS and its guardian firm on Saturday, arguing {that a} settlement could be “very damaging.” 

“Effectively, it’d be very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the status of these corporations,” Pelley stated throughout a dialog with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Saturday, who requested how dangerous a settlement and potential apology could be to the community. 

Trump filed a lawsuit towards Paramount World, CBS Information’ guardian firm, over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024.

Fox Information Digital confirmed that Trump rejected a $15 million provide to settle his lawsuit, in line with a supply conversant in the matter, because the president’s authorized crew can also be demanding a minimum of $25 million and an apology from CBS Information.

Cooper, who can also be a correspondent on “60 Minutes,” additionally requested Pelley about former present producer Invoice Owens resigning from this system in April.

“Invoice‘s choice to resign could not have been a lot of a call for him as a result of he was at all times the primary individual to defend the independence of ‘60 minutes.’ Invoice didn‘t work for Paramount. Invoice labored for our viewers, and he felt very keenly about that. And so I‘m undecided Invoice had any alternative, as soon as the company started to meddle in Invoice‘s selections concerning the editorial content material, or simply place stress in that space, Invoice felt that he didn‘t have the independence that sincere journalism requires,” Pelley stated. 

Pelley additionally stated he wished he had the general public backing of CBS Information, however added that his work was nonetheless making it onto this system. 

“You actually want the corporate was behind you 100%, proper? You actually want the highest echelons of the corporate would come out publicly and say ’60 Minutes’, for instance, is a crown jewel of American journalism, and we stand behind it 100%. I haven‘t heard that. Then again, my work is getting on the air, and I’ve not had anybody exterior ‘60 Minutes’ put their thumb on the dimensions and say, ‘you’ll be able to‘t say that. It’s best to say this. You must edit the story on this manner. It’s best to interview this individual.’ None of that has occurred. So whereas I want to have that public backing, possibly the extra essential factor is the work remains to be getting on the air,” Pelley stated. 

The “60 Minutes” correspondent not too long ago went viral for calling out Trump throughout a graduation tackle. 

“On this second, this second, this morning, our sacred rule of regulation is beneath assault. Journalism is beneath assault. Universities are beneath assault. Freedom of speech is beneath assault,” Pelley stated throughout his graduation speech at Wake Forest College. “And insidious concern is reaching by our colleges, our companies, our houses and into our personal ideas, the concern to talk in America. If our authorities is, in Lincoln’s phrase, ‘Of the folks, by the folks, for the folks,’ then why are we afraid to talk?”

Pelley addressed the remarks through the CNN interview and instructed Cooper that he felt “strongly” it wanted to be stated. 

“I don‘t consult with him or the president or the White Home or the administration. However I used to be speaking about actions which were taken by the federal government over these final many months. However, there was somewhat little bit of hysteria amongst some about this speech, and I merely ask you, what does it say about our nation when there’s hysteria a few speech that’s about freedom of speech?” the CBS correspondent added.