CBS insiders believe Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl could be next 60 Minutes staffers to go after Scott Pelleys fiery exit
CBS News insiders are speculating that “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker and Lesley Stahl are the next to exit the storied broadcast following fired journalist Scott Pelley out the door, The Post has learned.A source close to the situation said that Whitaker could make his move as soon as Wednesday.“I think Bill is next,” said a source close to the network.
“Lesley is keeping quiet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she left.”CBS News, Whitaker and Stahl did not return requests for comment.The correspondents — whom CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has privately referred to as “the legends,” along with Pelley — are said to be weighing their futures after Pelley was fired for cause on Tuesday night.“Lesley and Bill will be behind him,” said another CBS insider, who noted that Pelley’s exit has put immense pressure on the veteran correspondents to follow suit.Stahl, 84, and Whitaker, 74, are two of the oldest members of the show and have long been rumored to be mulling their retirements.Now, the abrupt exit of Pelley and last week’s bloodbath, which claimed correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega as well as former “60 Minutes” boss Tanya Simon and top producers Draggan Mihailovich, Guy Campanile and Matthew Polevoy, has raised fresh speculation.A second CBS insider said CBS News top brass are allowing Stahl and Whitaker to leave on their own terms, noting that with all the recent departures, the network has saved enough money to bring in fresh blood to reinvigorate the show.Another source pointed to a tick-tock by Status of Pelley’s last 24-hours at the company, in which the correspondent “huddled” with Whitaker on Tuesday afternoon to talk over the fast unfolding situation.The item caused speculation that Whitaker was aligned with Pelley, who had been prepping a resignation letter, to follow him out the door.
Pelley’s fate would soon be sealed after the award-winning correspondent lambasted Simon’s handpicked re...