Former CBS employees call for 'external investigation' into '60 Minutes' controversy: 'There's a problem here'

Former CBS News employees are reportedly calling on the network to launch an outside investigation into the ongoing “60 Minutes” editorial controversy.

CBS News was at the center of outrage after it aired an edited clip of Vice President Kamala Harris during the primetime election show “60 Minutes” on Monday that differed from a preview of the unflattering exchange she had with veteran correspondent Bill Whitaker and which was widely panned by critics.

“I think there should be an outside investigation,” a former CBS News journalist told the New York Post on Thursday.

“Obviously there is a problem here. If they care about journalistic integrity, they would investigate or release the full transcript,” the former CBS journalist added.

CBS' “60 Minutes” airs two different answers from Vice President Harris to the same question

“Her credibility has been questioned and her impartiality has been questioned,” a second source told The Post. “Don’t you need a full review of what went wrong?”

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According to The Post, CBS sources suggested the network bring back Al Ortiz, its former executive director of standards and practices, to conduct an external review. Ortiz retired in 2012 after working at CBS for 43 years.

CBS News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Trump demands CBS lose its broadcast license amid '60 Minutes' controversy: 'Unprecedented scandal!'

The controversy stems from an exchange between Harris and Whitaker about the Biden administration's relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One response was released in a preview clip that aired on Sunday's “Face The Nation” and another in the primetime special on Monday.

Harris was mocked by conservatives on Sunday for offering a long “word salad” when asked why it seemed like Netanyahu wasn't listening to the US. However, the vice president's lengthy answer didn't make it into the version that aired Monday night, and a different, shorter and more focused answer to the same question appeared instead.

Harris' 'Word Salad' Response to Israel Alliance Confuses Social Media Users: 'Someone Please Interpret'

“Well, Bill, the work that we have done has led to a number of movements by Israel in this region that were very much triggered by or the result of many things, including our advocacy of what was happening in the region has to happen. Harris responded on Sunday's “Face the Nation.”

Sometimes interviews are edited to save time, but when CBS aired the interview Monday night, Harris was shown giving a different answer to the same question.

“We will not stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need to end this war,” Harris said instead.

Critics accused CBS News of aiding the Harris campaign by cleaning up her messy response for the network's prime-time audience.

Former President Trump criticized CBS News and called on the network to lose its broadcast license, which he said was “the biggest scandal in the history of broadcasting.”

“A huge fake news scam by CBS and 60 Minutes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. “Their REAL ANSWER WAS CRAZY OR STUPID, so they actually replaced it with another answer to save it or at least make it look better. A FAKE NEWS SCAM that is completely illegal.”

“Take away the CBS license,” he continued. “Election interference. She is an idiot and the fake news media wants to hide that fact. AN UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Democrats made them and should be forced to concede the election? WOW!”

The Harris campaign insists it had nothing to do with editing, and an employee told Fox News Digital, “We do not control CBS' production decisions or refer questions to CBS.”

Original source of the article: Former CBS employees call for 'external investigation' into '60 Minutes' controversy: 'There's a problem here'