Scott Pelley revealed how mother or father firm, Paramount, is supervising '60 Minutes'

[ad_1] "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley remarked on longtime producer Bill Owens’ resignation on the finish of the newest episode on Sunday.

Owens introduced his abrupt departure on Tuesday as CBS and Paramount face an ongoing lawsuit from President Donald Trump .

"Over the previous months, it has additionally turn out to be clear that I'd not be allowed to run the present as I've all the time run it. To make unbiased choices primarily based on what was proper for 60 Minutes, proper for the viewers," Owens wrote in a memo obtained by Fox Information Digital. "So, having defended this present – and what we stand for – from each angle, over time with all the pieces I may, I'm stepping apart so the present can transfer ahead."

Invoice Owens resigned as "60 Minutes" producer on Tuesday. (Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile for Collision by way of Getty Photos; REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton; Screenshots/CBS Information)

CBS ANCHORS SALUTE OUTGOING '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER, SAY EFFORT TO SETTLE TRUMP LAWSUIT TIED TO CORPORATE MERGER

Pelley spoke on behalf of the "60 Minutes" crew, lamenting Owens’ departure.

"Invoice was with CBS Information almost 40 years, 26 years at ’60 Minutes,’" Pelley mentioned. "He lined the world, lined fight, the White Home. His was a quest to open minds, not shut them. For those who’ve ever labored onerous for a boss since you admired them, you then perceive what we’ve loved right here."

He added that Owens resigned "for us and also you" after feeling that he misplaced "independence" to participate in "sincere journalism."

President Trump filed a $20 billion lawsuit in opposition to CBS alleging election interference over its dealing with of the CBS interview. (Left: (Picture by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos), Proper: (Picture by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Photos), Proper: Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

"Our mother or father firm, Paramount, is attempting to finish a merger," Pelley mentioned. "The Trump administration should approve it. Paramount started to oversee our content material in new methods. None of our tales have been blocked, however Invoice felt he misplaced the independence that sincere journalism required."

He closed, "Nobody right here is blissful about it, however in resigning, Invoice proved one factor. He was the appropriate particular person to guide ’60 Minutes’ all alongside."

Fox News Digital reached out to CBS and Paramount for remark.

TRUMP AND PARAMOUNT SEEKING MEDIATOR, FUELING SETTLEMENT CHATTER IN CBS NEWS LAWSUIT

Trump is in search of $20 billion in a lawsuit in opposition to CBS, alleging election interference over its dealing with of a "60 Minutes" interview final yr with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The president accused CBS of aiding his 2024 Democratic opponent via misleading enhancing simply weeks earlier than the presidential election. CBS’ mother or father firm, Paramount International, agreed to mediation, signaling their courtroom feud will lead to a settlement.

"60 Minutes" host Scott Pelley spoke about Owens' departure on Sunday evening's episode. (Screenshot/CBS)

Some have criticized the potential of Paramount settling with Trump , claiming that this is able to be "bend[ing] the knee."

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Fox Information' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Lindsay Kornick is an affiliate editor for Fox Information Digital. Story ideas may be despatched to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.