The new CBS News leadership is facing criticism after a 60 Minutes investigation into alleged abuses at El Salvador’s CECOT prison was pulled hours before airing. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi says the decision was political despite multiple legal and editorial clearances. The report, which later circulated online, alleges Venezuelan deportees were mistreated at CECOT — a facility at the centre of a U.S. legal dispute over deportations. Critics warn the postponement raises concerns about editorial independence after Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount.
CBS Faces Backlash After 60 Minutes Pulls Investigation Into El Salvador’s CECOT Prison
Bari Weiss speaks at at a conference in California in 2022 [File: Mike Blake/Reuters]
The new leadership at CBS News is under fire after a 60 Minutes investigation into alleged abuses at El Salvador’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) was pulled from the broadcast schedule just hours before it was due to air.
What Happened
Producers had planned to run a segment titled "Inside CECOT," which accused authorities at the sprawling facility of mistreating Venezuelan deportees and questioned how the United States characterised those individuals. The segment reportedly streamed briefly on Canada’s Global TV app before CBS withdrew it, saying the piece "needed additional reporting."
Alfonsi's Response
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the story, sent a leaked email to colleagues asserting the decision was political. She said the investigation had been "screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices."
"Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one." — Sharyn Alfonsi
Context: CECOT and the Legal Dispute
CECOT, a vast maximum-security complex about 75 km southeast of San Salvador, has been promoted by President Nayib Bukele as a central tool in his crackdown on drug gangs. The facility has also been at the centre of a U.S. legal dispute since March, when the Trump administration transferred hundreds of Venezuelan and other migrants there despite a judge’s order that many be returned to the United States. Several released deportees have since alleged abuse at the prison, and human rights groups say inmates face brutal conditions.
Broader Concerns and Reactions
Critics say the decision to delay the segment raises questions about editorial independence at CBS News following the Paramount Skydance acquisition. Skydance, led by David Ellison — son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a prominent Trump donor — pledged regulators the network would reflect "varied ideological perspectives." In October, the company appointed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, a move critics argued could steer coverage toward conservative-friendly positions.
CBS executive statements framed the postponement as routine: Weiss told The New York Times the piece would "air when it’s ready," noting that holding stories for additional context is common in newsrooms. According to a report in The Washington Post, 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon said she resisted but ultimately complied with changes requested by senior editors.
Public and Political Reaction
The delayed broadcast drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that wealthy donors should not be allowed to shape media coverage. Media commentators and civil liberties groups expressed concern that the episode could set a precedent for political influence over reporting.
Current Status
CBS says the investigation will air in a future broadcast after further reporting. The network and producers have said they are working through editorial issues; Alfonsi and other staffers continue to defend the reporting’s factual basis.
