'60 Minutes' correspondent Scott Pelley fired after criticizing CBS execs

Scott Pelley is the latest "60 Minutes" veteran to have his airtime on the CBS show halted permanently.

CBS News has terminated the correspondent after more than two decades at "60 Minutes," USA TODAY has learned, leaving Pelley without severance or other benefits.

The anchor's exit comes after a heated staff meeting, in which Pelley accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of "murdering" the news institution, according to a recording obtained by The New York Times and reported June 1.

In a termination note obtained by USA TODAY, newly hired "60 Minutes" executive Nick Bilton told Pelley that he was hoping the show could find a "path forward together" following the "misconduct" but said, "You made it clear that you are not interested in such a path."

"It is a profound disappointment that you rejected that overture and chose ambush instead. Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt," Bilton told Pelley in a note. "Yesterday’s performative display of hostility — enacted in front of the staff instead of in a civil, private conversation — demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show."

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.

During the reported exchange on June 1, Pelley, who has worked at CBS News for nearly 40 years, slammed Bilton, digital news outlet and newsletter Status also reported, citing the leaked audio. The meeting was meant to introduce Bilton, a former Times technology columnist and investigative journalist, who was hired to lead "60 Minutes" in late May.

"60 Minutes" staff were informed of Pelley's termination in a note where Bilton wrote, "I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I don't say this lightly. I made repeated attempts to have direct conversations with him over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. That was not the path Scott chose."

This is a developing story.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY