Cbs News In Chaos Since Departure Of '60 Minutes' Producer, Waiting For The Next Shoe To Drop, Insider Says

CBS News staffers person been "on edge" since nan abrupt departure of "60 Minutes" executive shaper Bill Owens, according to a web insider. 

"Everyone is talking astir it, moreover today," nan CBS staffer told Fox News Digital connected Monday, astir a week aft Owens announced his departure. 

In a memo sent to colleagues, Owens suggested his determination was brought upon by firm overreach he said impacted his expertise to support an independent newsroom. 

"Over nan past months, it has besides go clear that I would not beryllium allowed to tally nan show arsenic I person ever tally it. To make independent decisions based connected what was correct for 60 Minutes, correct for nan audience," Owens wrote successful nan memo. "So, having defended this show – and what we guidelines for – from each angle, complete clip pinch everything I could, I americium stepping speech truthful nan show tin move forward."

‘60 MINUTES’ CALLS OUT CORPORATE OWNER PARAMOUNT ON THE AIR, SAYS PRODUCER WHO QUIT FELT INTERFERED WITH

"60 Minutes" executive shaper Bill Owens abruptly near nan long-running mag program, claiming he could nary longer make independent decisions astatine CBS. (Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile for Collision via Getty Images)

CBS News' genitor company, Paramount Global, is presently successful a ineligible conflict against President Donald Trump, who revenge a now-$20 cardinal suit past twelvemonth (it was initially $10 billion) alleging predetermination interference complete the network's handling of its "60 Minutes" question and reply pinch then-Vice President Kamala Harris. 

There was speculation Paramount was hoping to settee nan suit up of a planned merger pinch Skydance Media successful hopes of preventing imaginable retribution by nan FCC, which has nan authority to halt nan multibillion-dollar transaction. Both parties agreed to mediation, signaling their courtroom feud would consequence successful a settlement. 

Leading up to Owens' exit, however, it was reported that Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, "kept tabs" connected which upcoming "60 Minutes" segments were astir Trump. 

CBS ANCHORS SALUTE OUTGOING '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER, SAY EFFORT TO SETTLE TRUMP LAWSUIT TIED TO CORPORATE MERGER

Shari Redstone, nan controlling shareholder of CBS News' genitor institution Paramount, reportedly wants to settee Trump's suit successful bid for nan company's planned merger pinch Skydance Media to move forward. (Left: (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images), Right: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The speculation was affirmed by journalists connected "CBS Evening News" and "60 Minutes" who saluted nan beloved web shaper while addressing Trump's looming lawsuit. 

"Our genitor company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump management must o.k. it," seasoned CBS News analogous Scott Pelley told "60 Minutes" viewers connected Sunday. "Paramount began to supervise our contented successful caller ways. None of our stories person been blocked, but Bill felt he mislaid nan independency that honorable publicity required."

"CBS Evening News" executive shaper Guy Campanile has been outspoken astir really upset he is astir Owens leaving, truthful overmuch truthful that he urged his unit to watch Pelley's on-air comments, according to nan web insider. Campanile antecedently worked nether Owens arsenic a "60 Minutes" shaper earlier he began spearheading nan evening newscast past fall.

"Nobody knows what nan adjacent footwear that will drop," they told Fox News Digital. "And internally, it's conscionable very chaotic because everyone doesn't cognize what will hap next."

‘60 MINUTES' PRODUCER'S ABRUPT EXIT FUELS DRAMA AT CBS NEWS AS NETWORK BATTLES TRUMP LAWSUIT

A web insider told Fox News Digital that "CBS Evening News" executive shaper Guy Campanile has been truthful upset astir Owens' departure he urged his unit to watch "60 Minutes" analogous Scott Pelley's comments astir nan firm drama. (Screenshot/CBS)

The insider said nan web worry stemming from Trump's suit and nan pending merger "has everyone connected pins and needles."

"And I’m fresh to get backmost to work," nan CBS staffer said pinch frustration.

CBS staffers judge Trump's lawsuit is "BS" and that nary 1 wants to spot Paramount settle. Some are moreover "scared" astir nan imaginable of a settlement, believing it will "hurt nan news section and nan cognition of it." 

"I dream they don't because it insinuates we did thing wrong," nan insider told Fox News Digital. "If we weren't successful nan midst of nan merger we wouldn't, and we would beryllium much vocal astatine defending ourselves."

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Speaking connected behalf of CBS News colleagues, nan staffer had 1 elemental connection for Redstone.  

"Get retired of our measurement and fto america support moving really we person been for decades," nan insider told nan Paramount honcho. 

CBS News did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment.