CBS News Editor Criticized for Reporting on Candidate’s Deleted 9/11 Posts

CBS News and its editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, faced backlash on social media for a report related to Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The controversy arose from the network’s coverage of El-Sayed’s deleted posts about September 11, 2001, timed with the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

The report emphasized the potential political implications for El-Sayed. It highlighted the deletion of tweets mentioning the terrorist attacks. This drew criticism from left-leaning voices, who perceived it as a scandal.

As the nation prepares to mark 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001, Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, may be facing the risk of renewed scrutiny and fresh political attack, CBS News stated.

Weiss reportedly influenced the headline, making it explicit that El-Sayed had removed posts about 9/11. The revised title read, “Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s deleted tweets on Sept. 11 attacks invite scrutiny of past remarks.” Originally, the headline did not mention the deleted tweets.

Reaction to the involvement of Weiss was intense. Outlets and individuals on the left criticized her actions. Comments labeled Weiss as engaging in discriminatory practices. Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine and former columnist Jennifer Rubin were among those expressing disapproval. Rubin remarked that CBS should be disqualified from hosting Democratic debates due to the incident.

In contrast, some conservatives defended Weiss’s role as an editor. They dismissed the fervor from the left. National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke and The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway defended the editorial decision as routine.

CBS News cited various deleted posts from El-Sayed. One post from 2020 compared 9/11 fatalities to the COVID-19 death toll. Another, from 2021, critiqued the U.S.’s actions post-9/11. El-Sayed’s controversial statements drew further media attention. A local reporter questioned him about these remarks during his campaign.

Responding to inquiries, El-Sayed acknowledged the gravity of 9/11. He emphasized the need for responsible policies regarding military engagements. CBS did not provide immediate comments on the issue.

Despite criticisms, similar reports of deleted posts by politicians are common. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in media coverage of political figures.