U.S. Senators Press CBS to Release Unedited Kamala Harris ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

A group of U.S. Senators is calling for CBS News to release the full, unedited interview of Vice President Kamala Harris after the network’s “60 Minutes” segment came under fire for allegedly editing Harris' responses to questions on Israel. The controversial edit has raised concerns about media bias, prompting lawmakers to demand transparency from the network.

The controversy erupted when CBS released a promotional clip of Harris discussing U.S. financial support for Israel amid its ongoing war against terrorists. In the promo, Harris appeared to tout the U.S. role in influencing Israeli actions. However, when the full interview aired, the statement was mysteriously absent, sparking accusations of deceptive editing.

Several Republican senators have since demanded the full transcript be released to the public:

• Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-ND) argued that if the Harris campaign stood by the Vice President's remarks, they should support the release of the full interview. Thune pointed out that the refusal to do so "only raises more questions."

• Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) slammed CBS, stating that the American people deserve the full transcript to ensure transparency. He added, “CBS has proven its bias,” calling the selective editing unacceptable.

• Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) echoed those sentiments on his “Verdict” podcast, saying the deceptive edit calls into question CBS's credibility going forward. He called for the release of the unedited interview, a demand that has been supported by numerous conservatives.

• Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say: "Release the full unedited interview."

• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) agreed, stating that the transcript should be made public, adding, “The idea that @KamalaHarris’ comments may have been edited in a favorable way needs to be dealt with quickly.”

The interview in question occurred when Bill Whitaker, the “60 Minutes” host, was discussing U.S. financial support for Israel. In the CBS promo, Harris was shown stating that U.S. advocacy had led to movements in the region, indirectly suggesting success in pushing Israel toward certain actions. However, when the full interview aired, that comment was missing. Instead, Harris was shown saying: “**We are not gonna stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.**”

The discrepancy between the two versions has led to significant backlash. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) was particularly scathing in his remarks, accusing CBS of editing Harris’ answer to “make her appear more coherent than reality.” Cotton didn’t hold back, labeling the situation as “deeply dishonest disinformation” and criticizing Harris for being "dangerously unprepared to serve as president."

• CBS's credibility is under fire, with multiple lawmakers accusing the network of manipulating the Vice President’s words to paint her in a more favorable light.

• Calls for the full release of the Harris interview are growing louder, with demands for the unedited transcript being pushed by high-profile GOP senators.

With 2024 approaching, tensions are mounting between Republicans and the media, especially as outlets like CBS face accusations of bias and deceptive editing. This incident further fuels concerns about how the mainstream media handles coverage of key political figures like Kamala Harris, who remains a divisive figure for many voters.

The American people deserve the full story, and it's time CBS steps up to provide it.

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