‘60 Minutes’ Top Producer Resigns, Says He's Lost Journalistic Independence

The top executive producer of the CBS News show “60 Minutes” quit on Tuesday, according to a memo obtained by HuffPost.

Bill Owens told staff in a memo on Tuesday that he is resigning from the Sunday news program over a lack of journalistic independence, The New York Times first reported.

“Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ‘60 Minutes,’ right for the audience,” Owens said in the memo, a copy of which was provided to HuffPost. “So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward.”

Owens’ departure comes as President Donald Trump has routinely attacked the program and called for “maximum fines and punishment” over its coverage of his administration.

In his memo, Owens offered a positive outlook for the news program.

“‘60 Minutes’ will continue to cover the new administration, as we will report on future administrations,” Owens wrote. “We will report from War zones, investigate injustices and educate our audience. In short, ‘60 Minutes’ will do what it has done for 57 years.”