CBS News' Bari Weiss threatened to sue 60 Minutes reporter after axed story furor: report

Emmy award-winning "60 Minutes" correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi has retained a prominent litigator as her tenure at the prestigious CBS News program heads for an abrupt end — the result of a public clash with newly appointed CBS News head Bari Weiss that has escalated into legal threats.

Alfonsi's contract with the network is set to expire at the end of the month with little hope of renewal after Weiss killed her ready-to-run "Inside CECOT" investigation just hours before it was scheduled to air, Page Six Hollywood reported Friday. The investigation focused on the controversial deportation of multiple people to a notorious El Salvador prison.

At the time, the correspondent responded by sending an internal memo to her colleagues criticizing what she characterized as management's meddling and an attempt to "shield [the Trump] administration." The memo was leaked to the press, creating a public firestorm that forced Weiss to publicly defend her decision to pull the segment.

According to Page Six, Weiss subsequently threatened to sue Alfonsi for the leak, claiming it constituted a breach of contract. However, sources close to the situation suggest the dispute may be resolved amicably, with one insider noting that "Bari has her hands full right now."

Alfonsi has engaged Bryan Freedman, a high-profile litigator known for representing on-air news talent including Megyn Kelly, Don Lemon, Tiffany Cross, and Tucker Carlson after their respective networks terminated them. Freedman is renowned for extracting substantial settlements for his news clients — most notably securing $69 million for Kelly when she departed NBC News in 2019, according to the Page Six report.

However, sources familiar with the clash told Page Six that Alfonsi may face significant obstacles in securing a major settlement. Since CBS News is not firing her but simply allowing her contract to expire, her legal leverage appears limited.