Regulator Suggests CBS Might Face Issues Following Harris Interview
US broadcaster CBS might have violated FCC regulations by misleadingly editing its ‘60 Minutes’ interview with the Democratic presidential candidate. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the basis to investigate a complaint against CBS regarding deceptively edited footage of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to a Republican-appointed commissioner.
Earlier this month, CBS aired two differing answers from Harris in response to the same question—one in a preview and another during the actual '60 Minutes' program—leading to allegations of misleading editing designed to present the sitting vice president as more coherent than she was.
The Center for American Rights (CAR) submitted a complaint to the FCC on Wednesday, accusing the network of “deliberate news distortion,” which could be a violation of the regulator’s standards.
“What this claim is alleging is that an act of distortion took place,” Commissioner Nathan Simington told Fox News Digital on Friday. He elaborated that the FCC has “certainly contemplated the possibility of distortionary reporting taking place via splicing” and referred to past instances where commissioners demonstrated similar concerns, such as replacing a yes answer with a no answer to a different question.
Simington pointed out that the FCC cannot regulate speech, as the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the press. Nonetheless, he noted that CBS could face repercussions for violating “abuse of public trust.”
“I think everyone agrees that deliberately misleading the public is a bad idea,” he stated, emphasizing that if CBS engaged in such actions, it should raise concerns among Americans. “People go to the news in order to learn about things that they would never be able to learn about themselves. In other words, going to the news is an act of extending trust. Now, the thing about trust is that once it’s lost, it’s very difficult to regain.”
Simington is among the two Republicans on the five-member FCC, having been appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020. Trump is set to face Harris in the November 5 election for the presidency, following pressure from Democrats for President Joe Biden to exit the race in July.
Trump accused '60 Minutes' of committing “the greatest fraud in broadcast history” by altering Harris’ responses. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, countered by claiming the former president was undermining free speech and democracy.
“The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage,” she asserted last week.
The CAR complaint specifically targets WCBS-TV in New York, which is owned by CBS Corporation, rather than an affiliate that might deny responsibility. While Simington refrained from speculating on any potential investigation, he mentioned that the FCC could impose fines or set conditions on the network’s license renewal if it is found that CBS intentionally distorted the Harris interview.
Just a day before the CAR complaint was lodged, House Speaker Mike Johnson accused CBS of selectively and deceptively editing his own interview. The Louisiana Republican provided evidence by sharing unedited footage recorded by his office alongside what aired on X.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Earlier this month, CBS aired two differing answers from Harris in response to the same question—one in a preview and another during the actual '60 Minutes' program—leading to allegations of misleading editing designed to present the sitting vice president as more coherent than she was.
The Center for American Rights (CAR) submitted a complaint to the FCC on Wednesday, accusing the network of “deliberate news distortion,” which could be a violation of the regulator’s standards.
“What this claim is alleging is that an act of distortion took place,” Commissioner Nathan Simington told Fox News Digital on Friday. He elaborated that the FCC has “certainly contemplated the possibility of distortionary reporting taking place via splicing” and referred to past instances where commissioners demonstrated similar concerns, such as replacing a yes answer with a no answer to a different question.
Simington pointed out that the FCC cannot regulate speech, as the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the press. Nonetheless, he noted that CBS could face repercussions for violating “abuse of public trust.”
“I think everyone agrees that deliberately misleading the public is a bad idea,” he stated, emphasizing that if CBS engaged in such actions, it should raise concerns among Americans. “People go to the news in order to learn about things that they would never be able to learn about themselves. In other words, going to the news is an act of extending trust. Now, the thing about trust is that once it’s lost, it’s very difficult to regain.”
Simington is among the two Republicans on the five-member FCC, having been appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020. Trump is set to face Harris in the November 5 election for the presidency, following pressure from Democrats for President Joe Biden to exit the race in July.
Trump accused '60 Minutes' of committing “the greatest fraud in broadcast history” by altering Harris’ responses. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, countered by claiming the former president was undermining free speech and democracy.
“The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage,” she asserted last week.
The CAR complaint specifically targets WCBS-TV in New York, which is owned by CBS Corporation, rather than an affiliate that might deny responsibility. While Simington refrained from speculating on any potential investigation, he mentioned that the FCC could impose fines or set conditions on the network’s license renewal if it is found that CBS intentionally distorted the Harris interview.
Just a day before the CAR complaint was lodged, House Speaker Mike Johnson accused CBS of selectively and deceptively editing his own interview. The Louisiana Republican provided evidence by sharing unedited footage recorded by his office alongside what aired on X.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
