‘60 Minutes’ producer Bill Owens quits under pressure from Trump’s CBS lawsuit
By Ariel Zilber
Longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens abruptly quit on Tuesday, citing a loss of journalistic independence as CBS’ parent company Paramount Global looks to settle a lawsuit from President Trump.
“Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ‘60 Minutes,’ right for the audience,” Owens wrote in a memo to staff which was obtained by The Post.
He added: “So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”
Bill Owens, executive producer of CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” abruptly resigned on Tuesday.
Sportsfile via Getty Images
Owens is just the third person to helm the iconic Sunday evening news magazine in its 57-year history.
His departure marks a critical juncture for CBS News, which has come under increasing external and internal pressure — most notably from Trump and Paramount Global.
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Trump filed a $20 billion lawsuit accusing the program of “unlawful and illegal behavior” for what he claims was deceptive editing of “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris last October.
He has demanded a retraction and even suggested CBS’s broadcast license be revoked.
“CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this,” Trump wrote on April 13 in a social media post.
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