According to Bill Owens' message to colleagues, which CNN and New York Times have taken part of, he has recently become aware that he will not be able to lead the program as before or "make independent decisions based on what is right for '60 minutes'". At the same time, he does not want to encourage colleagues to follow in protest:
"I think this will be an opportunity for the company to review both itself and its relationship with us," he writes.
In November, Donald Trump sued CBS News and its owner Paramount Global for billions of dollars, claiming that the program, according to Trump, had engaged in "illegal behavior". According to New York Times, "60 minutes" has recently been subjected to "higher pressure" from both the president and from CBS owner Paramount.
Paramount's chairman of the board Shari Redstrone did not want to comment on "60 minutes" or Bill Owens' decision to leave the program when asked by The Wrap.
