A “60 Minutes” segment, which was canceled at the last minute, has appeared online, raising questions about journalistic fairness.
The segment reportedly included interviews with migrants who had been held in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) during President Trump’s efforts to secure the border.
A leaked version of the story seems to have been shown on a Canadian network before being taken down. The reasons for the leak remain unclear.
In the leaked video, some deportees claim they experienced mistreatment, including abuse. One deportee said he was sexually abused and put in solitary confinement. Another, a college student, claimed guards beat him and knocked out his tooth upon arrival.
Some experts in the story questioned the reasons for some deportations. They suggested the deportations may have occurred while legal decisions were still pending.
The decision to not air the story has led to accusations that CBS leadership is trying to protect President Trump from negative reporting.
The reporter, Sharyn Alfonsi, said the story was accurate and approved by CBS lawyers. However, CBS News chief Bari Weiss said the story wasn’t ready and that the Trump administration should have been contacted for comment.
The situation has brought CBS News under scrutiny. Some wonder if Weiss’s hiring means the network is moving towards a more favorable view of President Trump and his policies.
