CBS Accused of ‘Significant and Intentional Distortion of Information’ in FCC Complaint Over ’60 Minutes’ Editing

CBS News was accused of “significant and intentional distortion of information” in a formal complaint filed Wednesday by the Center for American Rights with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

CBS News has come under fire in recent days for airing two different answers to the same question in its “60 Minutes” interview last week with Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris was mocked by conservatives when footage of her offering a lengthy “word salad” was broadcast by CBS’ “Face the Nation” to promote the “60 Minutes” session, when Bill Whitaker asked why it seemed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not listening to the United States.

However, the vice president’s lengthy response was not aired in the version that aired Monday night on “60 Minutes” and a shorter, more focused response to the same question was aired instead.

CBS ’60 MINUTES’ GIVES TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS FROM VP HARRIS TO THE SAME QUESTION

Bill Whitaker interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris on an episode of “60 Minutes” that aired last Monday night. (Screenshots/CBS News)

The Center for American Rights, also known as CAR, argued that the discrepancies “amount to a deliberate distortion of information – a violation of FCC rules governing broadcasters’ public interest obligations.”

The complaint insisted that CBS release the unedited transcript of the interview to set the record straight, which echoes calls from former President Trump and many others.

“This is not just an interview or a network,” CAR President Daniel Suhr said in a statement.

“This is about public trust in the media on critical issues of national security and international relations during one of the most important elections of our time,” Suhr continued. “When broadcasters manipulate interviews and distort reality, it undermines democracy itself. The FCC must act quickly to restore public trust in our news media.”

CBS news in turmoil as multiple controversies erupt at the network

The Center for American Rights, also known as CAR, argued that the discrepancies “amount to a deliberate distortion of information – a violation of FCC rules governing broadcasters’ public interest obligations.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, file)

The complaint, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, cites long-standing FCC precedent that broadcasters “may not engage in intentional falsification or suppression of information” and urged the FCC to “order CBS to release the full transcript.

“The need for Commission action is reinforced by CBS’s refusal thus far to release the transcript, as it has done in similar interviews in the past,” the complaint states.

CBS News did not immediately respond when asked about the CAR complaint.

The ordeal began when CBS teased Harris’ interview earlier this month on “Face the Nation.”

“Well Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in this region by Israel that have been strongly motivated or resulting from many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region” , Harris responded to Whitaker in the “Face the Nation” version.

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON CBS NEWS TO PUBLISH FULL TRANSCRIPT OF KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW

The Harris campaign has distanced itself from the controversy. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

When CBS aired the interview the following night, it showed a different answer to the exact same question.

“We are not going to stop doing what is necessary for the United States to clearly articulate its position on the need to end this war,” Harris said.

The Harris campaign distanced itself from the idea that she was asking for answers to be exchanged and directing questions to CBS.

CBS News has not offered an official explanation or responded to requests to release the unedited video.

The Center for American Rights describes itself as a “nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the most fundamental constitutional rights of Americans,” according to its website.

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