Why Did '60 Minutes' Drop a Big Story on Trump's Salvadoran Prison?

CECOT: A Maximum-Security Facility Under Scrutiny

'60 Minutes' has recently decided to postpone a segment about a controversial prison in El Salvador, known as CECOT. This maximum-security facility has been criticized for its harsh conditions and houses deportees from the U.S.

The Decision to Postpone

The show's producers stated that the segment needed more reporting before it could air. This decision came after a teaser for the episode was briefly shared online, showing disturbing footage of deportees being transferred to the prison.

Deportees' Experiences

According to the teaser, many of the deportees were unaware they were being sent to CECOT. They believed they were being returned to their home countries but found themselves in a prison instead. The segment included interviews with some of the deportees, who described their experiences as traumatic.

Background and Collaboration

The prison was established as part of a collaboration between the Trump administration and the government of El Salvador. Trump had praised the prison and the country's president, Nayib Bukele, for their efforts to house deportees from the U.S.

Investigative Findings

However, an investigation by '60 Minutes' revealed that a significant number of the deportees had no criminal record. Only a small percentage had been convicted of violent crimes. This raised questions about the fairness of the deportation process.

Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

One of the deportees, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was later returned to the U.S. after it was discovered that he had been deported by mistake. His case highlighted the potential for errors in the deportation process.

Trump's Comments and Network Dynamics

The decision to postpone the segment came shortly after Trump made comments about the new owners of CBS, the network that airs '60 Minutes'. Trump has had a contentious relationship with the show, particularly after an episode featuring Kamala Harris that he claimed was edited unfairly. The network eventually settled a lawsuit with Trump over the interview.

Questions of Independence

The postponement of the segment has raised questions about the independence of '60 Minutes' under its new leadership. Some have speculated that the decision was influenced by Trump's comments about the network's owners.