The veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent who interviewed Kamala Harris for the segment that triggered the just-settled lawsuit filed by President Trump against CBS News and its parent company reportedly grew emotional during a staff meeting held after the deal was announced.
Bill Whitaker, 73, appeared “teary-eyed” and “quite somber” during a tense Zoom meeting Wednesday morning as he addressed his “60 Minutes” colleagues in the wake of Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with Trump, according to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter.
The Post reported on Wednesday that CBS insiders were not buying the spin from Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks who insisted that the settlement with the president spared the company from “reputational damage.”
The “dispirited staff” of the iconic television newsmagazine attended a “hastily arranged” 11 a.m. virtual conference to which they were summoned by CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and Tanya Simon, the acting executive producer of “60 Minutes,” Status reported.
According to the report, Simon told staffers that she learned of the settlement through press reports, though she added that she was relieved that neither “60 Minutes” or CBS News were forced to offer up an apology to Trump as per the terms of the settlement.
After Whitaker spoke during the 11 a.m. Zoom conference, he was followed by fellow correspondents Lesley Stahl and Sharyn Alfonsi, who “voiced deep frustration and dismay” at the company’s decision to settle with Trump, according to Status.
Both criticized the move, which they saw as a “capitulation” to political pressure in order to smooth regulatory pathways for the planned merger between Paramount Global and Skydance, led by Larry and David Ellison, Status reported.
Throughout the meeting, Cibrowski and Simon sought to reassure the newsroom, according to the report.
They emphasized that there had been no interference from corporate leadership during the closing stretch of the most recent season and pledged to protect the editorial independence of “60 Minutes” going forward.
Simon also sought to address lingering concerns about a post-merger shake-up in which management may try to bring in new blood and perhaps reorient the editorial bent by hiring someone like Bari Weiss, who reportedly spoke to David Ellison about a role at CBS News.
“The concern is what happens next,” one “60 Minutes” staffer told Status.
“Is this it? Or [does Skydance] say we are going to bring a new person in and start tinkering around with this show.” The staffer added, “The institution could unravel.”
A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment.
Paramount Global, CBS’s corporate parent, agreed on Wednesday to pay $16 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview that Whitaker conducted with Harris just before the 2024 presidential election.
Trump filed the suit claiming that CBS News deceptively edited the Harris interview in order to boost her chances of winning the election.
The settlement stipulates that the funds would be earmarked for his future presidential library and no money going directly to him.
The deal also includes no apology or admission of wrongdoing, but “60 Minutes” will now release transcripts of presidential candidate interviews after airing.
The settlement, which was reportedly sought by Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, was seen by many internally as a capitulation to Trump and a blow to the integrity of the institution.
CBS had previously called the lawsuit “meritless” as it fought the case in court.
CBS News staffers told Status that the cost of the settlement goes far beyond the $16 million payout.
It precipitated the ousters of CBS News President Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” Executive Producer Bill Owens — despite the fact that their colleagues insist that they had done nothing wrong.
Last week, Status reported that all seven “60 Minutes” correspondents signed a letter to management demanding that Simon, the daughter of the late CBS News veteran Bob Simon, be named the permanent successor to Owens.
A Trump spokesperson celebrated the outcome, declaring that the former president is holding “the fake news media accountable” and claiming that “CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers expressed outrage.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the deal “bribery in plain sight” and demanded an investigation.
“Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I’m calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken,” she said.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) claimed “Paramount just paid Trump a bribe for merger approval.”
“When Democrats retake power, I’ll be first in line calling for federal charges. In the meantime, state prosecutors should make the corporate execs who sold out our democracy answer in court, today.”
The Post has sought comment from CBS News.
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