Full Breakdown
CBS Accused of Shelving 60 Minutes Probe into Banks’ Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
8/5/2026, 8:24:49 PM
Alleged Suppression of a 60 Minutes Segment
Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, says a 60 Minutes segment examining major banks’ involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation was “being suppressed” by CBS News leadership. Wyden, who was interviewed by former 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi in March, alleges that the interview was part of a broader report on Wall Street banks and the U.S. Virgin Islands government. He adds that it is unclear whether CBS chief Bari Weiss will allow the piece to air.
Wyden’s Findings on Bank Transactions
Wyden’s 67-page report, based on nonpublic Treasury records, claims Deutsche Bank failed to promptly report more than $250 million in suspicious Epstein-related transactions, while Bank of America flagged $170 million only five to seven years after the activity.
CBS’s Official Response
The spokesperson declined to comment on the segment’s status, noting that the 60 Minutes season had ended before the piece could be completed.
Background on Editorial Changes at CBS
Alfonsi, who was dismissed in May, previously accused CBS leadership of “spiking” the segment for political reasons. She also claimed that Weiss, hired by Paramount CEO David Ellison, has steered coverage to favor President Donald Trump, who has faced scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My small team of investigators did what Trump’s attorney general and Treasury secretary said was impossible: they connected the dots and found evidence of multiple crimes related to Epstein’s associates,” — Sen. Ron Wyden
