CBS News fired longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent and former "CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The termination has sparked internal tensions at the network and its flagship newsmagazine program.

CBS News leadership addressed the firing in an internal editorial call on Wednesday, with network executives citing a breach of trust as the reason for Pelley's dismissal, according to audio transcripts reported by The New York Times. The head of CBS News told staff that the decision involved trust issues fundamental to newsroom operations.

Pelley has disputed CBS's account of his termination and is accusing network leadership of lying about the circumstances surrounding his firing. The veteran journalist has also alleged that CBS executives interfered with the editorial independence of "60 Minutes," raising concerns about journalistic integrity at the program.

The firing has exposed broader challenges facing CBS News as the network undergoes leadership changes and attempts to revamp its news operations. The incident has created what sources describe as a volatile atmosphere within "60 Minutes," the network's prestigious Sunday evening newsmagazine that has been a cornerstone of CBS programming for decades.

Pelley joined CBS News in 1989 and served as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" from 2011 to 2017 before returning to "60 Minutes" as a correspondent. His departure marks a significant personnel change for the program, which has faced various internal challenges in recent years.