Former ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley accused CBS News Chief Bari Weiss in an emotional New York Times article published Sunday of tilting coverage to favor how President Donald Trump described events in Minnesota. She also described a newsroom that was in turmoil under Weiss’ leadership. Subscribe to this story to enjoy it ad free

Receive unlimited access to exclusive content and ad free articles. Pelley said in his

article that Weiss had tried to influence the politically sensitive “60 Minutes report” on

by attempting to influence her. He also claimed this was an editorial interference, which he hadn’t experienced before. Pelley told The New York Times, “There was political influence on the president’s version that I never saw in my 37 years of working at CBS News.” Pelley told The New York Times that the conflict centered around an “60 Minutes segment” about the confrontations between protesters, federal agents and immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota. This included the fatal shootings Alex Pretti & Renee Good. Pelley claims that Weiss had sent him notes about the segment, after it was already proved for broadcast. He stated that he was asked to make the protesters pear more violent, and also for the details of Good’s death. first interview since being fired last week “In the email, there are two things: Can we make the demonstrators look more violent?” Now, I’m parhrasing. Pelley replied, “I don’t know the exact quote but this is what I was told.” Renee Good’s car was another issue. Pelley stated that he and the producer of his film had “gone to great lengths” to include footage depicting protesters behaving violently including confrontations between law enforcement officers. He also said that they reviewed the video of Good’s shooting and concluded that it did not support Weiss’s characterization. Pelley claims that no changes were made in response to Weiss notes. The statement from CBS News said that Weiss’ notes were not used to change the article. They were only made to improve it. “As it is common in newsrooms that work collaboratively, not everything she said made it into a final piece,” the statement read. Pelley’s accusations were part of a broader criticism of CBS News’ leadership after the sale of Paramount to Skydance Media, CBS’ parent, and Weiss’ pointment as editor-in chief. Pelley, who was fired on Tuesday after an angry meeting with the newly hired “60 Minutes’ executive producer Nick Bilton whom he claimed lacked TV news experience, had a heated argument. Pelley said to the Times tensions have been rising for several weeks, following the mass firings of “60 Minutes’ executives and the leadership changes. This included the dismissal by Tanya Simon as executive producer. Pelley told the Times that he confronted Bilton at a staff meeting, where Bilton had read prepared remarks and introduced himself to his employees. Pelley called Bilton’s email “insulting,” and he announced plans to hire a new group of “60 Minutes correspondents” before the meeting. Pelley told reporters that Pelley was concerned about firings. Pelley admitted that she used hyperbolic words, but they are propriate for a reporter. immigration protests in Minneolis Pelley described the growing concern at CBS News in the wake of

, which was announced against the network just weeks prior to federal regulators proving the company’s purchase by David Ellison’s Skydance Media. Pelley referred to the settlement as a “bribe”, which was intended to secure the proval of the deal. Paramount denied this claim. Cooper, who had his contract not renewed, concluded his final pearance saying that he hoped that “60 Minutes'” integrity would be maintained. Pelley described Simon as “blindsided” at her termination. She said that she had grown up in CBS News because her father Bob Simon worked there. Pelley stated that “my understanding” from those directly involved with the interaction was that Bari Weiss, who was a part of that conversation, was livid because Anderson Cooper said these things without consulting her, Bari. This would have never been done in the normal course. Pelley stated, “I believe this was a part of the reasons Tanya was fired.” A CBS News spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to NBC News about Pelley’s description and assertion of Simon being terminated. Pelley, a 37-year veteran of CBS News who worked as a White House Correspondent, anchor for “CBS Evening News”, and correspondent for “60 Minutes”, described the leadership as lacking in experience. He is confident that the network will recover, but warns the trust in the newsroom has been eroded. Pelley told

, “They’re not doing what they should be.” “And I’ve never noticed a subtle political bias at CBS News, or ’60 Minutes. My hope is a return to the sanity. We can do this. We can land this plane. “CBS News is on fire right now.”