The current uproar about the video editing undertaken by "60 Minutes" on their October 7, 2024 broadcast to make Kamala Harris appear coherent – a form of election interference – actually is standard fare for the CBS.
Sanctimony Over the Top
An interference ploy on "60 Minutes" had already occurred three weeks earlier. The sanctimonious Scott Pelley interviewed three people: a J6 intruder to the Capitol, U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves from the Department of Justice, and Thomas Griffith, a retired conservative judge. The feature contended that Donald Trump sought to foment an insurrection against the nation even though 'the 2020 election was the most secure' in U.S. history.
Matthew Graves, who failed miserably as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, thankfully resigned this January. On the broadcast he earnestly proclaimed that no J6 intruders to the Capitol were indicted – a blatant lie – unless they committed violence against police or others, vandalized property, or let others into the building. Those for whom no case could be built, he said, were not prosecuted.
Thomas Griffith stated that no evidence, whatsoever, indicated sufficient election fraud to change the outcome of any precinct in America. Note: he didn't say any town. He didn't say any county. He didn't say any state – he said precinct. Yet, we know from Judge Michael Gabelman's study in Wisconsin, from the voter data rolls in Nevada, from the unregistered and unqualified voters in Georgia, and from the voting anomalies in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and particularly Arizona, that extensive fraud occurred.
Gaslighting Before the Election
In essence, CBS contributed to gaslighting by Left. The poor J6 soul who was interviewed by Pelley was coerced to appear contrite and apologetic as he was being force-fed a narrative conjured by CBS. The narrative was that the DOJ operates with an even hand, no notable election fraud had taken place in 2020, and Donald Trump deliberately ginned up his followers to mount an insurrection.
All three of these assertions are absurd. The DOJ did not operate with an even hand for all of Merrick Garland’s tenure as Attorney General. Citizens awaiting trial were incarcerated for longer than anyone should be in our great nation. The chief rabble rouser actually caught on video, Ray Epps, was let go with a hand slap.
The many FBI operatives on site, 26 in all, who urged attendees to storm the Capitol, had not been investigated at the time of the broadcast. Mercifully, they will face real justice, not Democrat 'justice.' The pipe bombs conveniently found by FBI personnel at key moments were not discussed and Ashli Babbitt’s death was ignored.
Officers who died because of coronaries after the riot were prominently cited as if to blame their deaths on Donald Trump.
An Unfounded Assertion
Most telling was the assertion that Donald Trump sought to foment an insurrection. If Trump had sought to overthrow the U.S. government – which he would never do – he had the time and likely the means to do so. He did nothing, however, that even remotely smacks of insurrection. In the face of mounting evidence of massive election fraud, what he did do was hold a rally where his many supporters could express their frustration and solidarity.
"60 Minutes" didn't mention the J6 star chamber which cherry-picked witnesses and data, ignoring major evidence and stifling or destroying findings that did not suit them. As such, the committee failed to persuade Congress that Trump was guilty of anything.
As more evidence has now emerged, it appears that the J6 committee proceeded in an intentionally corrupt manner and tampered with a star witness. Along with other committee members, the recently pardoned Liz Cheney is now fearful of what might next be exposed.
Firmly in the Pocket
For CBS and 60 Minutes, which have been firmly in the pocket of the Democrat Party for decades, to slant this feature was abominable and yet typical. As such, much of their large viewership concluded that J6 was an insurrection led by Trump. He's guilty they claim and should not have been allowed to run for president, let alone win.
Much like the extensive doctoring by CBS of the Kamala Harris interview, Scott Pelley’s fraudulent reporting was designed to impede Trump’s candidacy. Thank God it failed.