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CBS News turned over documents related to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ “60 Minutes” interview after the newly appointed Federal Communications Commission chair reopened a complaint into the appearance.
In October as the presidential election was in its final weeks, President Donald Trump accused CBS of “A FAKE NEWS SCAM” and called for revoking the network’s license over how it edited Harris’ interview.
The FCC chairwoman at the time, Jessica Rosenworcel, called it a threat against free speech and rejected the complaint. Reuters reported that Brendan Carr, shortly after Trump’s inauguration, reinstated the complaint against CBS as well as complaints against ABC News for its debate moderation and NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for Harris’ appearance. Carr told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” Monday he sought the transcript from CBS over allegations of “news distortion.”
More:Trump’s new FCC chief opens investigation into longtime conservative targets NPR, PBS
Trump also sued CBS for $10 billion over the interview, which he called “misleading,” and asked the commission to assist in making the transcript public, according to Reuters.
CBS News confirmed with USA TODAY they turned over the transcript and the footage on Monday.
Did CBS edit Kamala Harris’’60 Minutes’ interview?
Yes. It is standard practice among news outlets to edit to fit time or space constraints, experts previously told USA TODAY.
During a teaser clip for the interview on Oct. 6 on “Face the Nation” when Bill Whitaker asks Harris about the U.S.-Israeli relationship, viewers see a different video response from the vice president than on the subsequent “60 Minutes” broadcast on Oct. 7.
In dismissing the claim, FCC acting enforcement bureau chief Peter S. Hyun said in a Jan. 16 letter:
“Opening a news distortion enforcement action under Commission precedent – as rare as it is – turns on the important question of whether any information or extrinsic evidence was submitted to the Commission indicating an “intentional” or “deliberate” falsification of the news,” the statement read. “The Complaint submitted fails to do so.”
Carr told Fox News that more information was needed to determine if the complaint had merit.
“What was the real answer? Was it edited? Was it edited for clarity and length, which would be fine, or were there other reasons the editing took place?” Carr said on Fox.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez has criticized the move, calling it “FCC weaponization against CBS.”
“During these last two weeks, the FCC has shown a concerning pattern of implementing the will of the Administration on issues that go far beyond our core responsibilities,” Gomez stated in a press release.
The FCC did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request on Tuesday for an update on their investigation.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com, and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.
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