60 Minutes Correspondent Says He Was Accused of Physical Abuse Before Firing

Longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley said he was accused of physically abusing newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton during a meeting one day before his firing from the program. In an interview published Sunday by the New York Times, Pelley said CBS News President Tom Cibrowski told him the accusation was a firing offense.

Pelley stated he did not come within 10 feet of Bilton and denied ever putting his hands on anyone in anger.

Pelley said he canceled a planned trip to attend the meeting because he viewed it as an existential moment for the show. During the session, he challenged Bilton's qualifications and criticized CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss for changes at the network, including the firing of former executive producer Tanya Simon.

Pelley said he expected to receive answers about those changes rather than to be terminated. He added that Cibrowski later retracted the physical abuse accusation.

Pelley disputed claims in Bilton's termination letter that he had rejected an invitation to dinner and had hijacked the meeting. He said he declined the dinner because he was too emotionally upset and expected to say the wrong thing. Pelley also described Bilton's welcome email, which stated the program was not frozen in 1968 and that gasoline no longer cost 32 cents.

He said the message showed Bilton did not understand the show's culture. The interview program, which has aired since 1968, is scheduled to return Sunday without Pelley and will feature guest anchors.